Newbie questions

[ken55]

I had taken some interest in keeping an octopus but I'm not sure if this would be a good thing for me to try yet.

I guess my first question will make it or break it for any further consideration. I had read on Live Aquaria that their octopi (term?) are top of the line predators that wil eventually eat everything else in the tank. Is that true of all species or just the ones they sell?

Oh and one more if you don't mind. I think I read that if the octopus is frightened the ink he releases will mess up the water quality of the tank. Is that true?

Thanks, Ken

 

[sslak]

Check out TONMO of you're serious. If you've never kept delicate marine animals, it's probably not a good animal for beginners.

Cephs will eat everything and anything living in your tank. Shrimp, crabs, snails, fish..everything. There is no species of octopus that can be kept peacefully with other inhabitants.

They also require a special setup, they can and will escape through tiny openings.

The average life span is 6 months to two years at the longest, kind of a deal breaker for a lot of people.

 

[ken55]

Check out TONMO of you're serious. If you've never kept delicate marine animals, it's probably not a good animal for beginners.

Cephs will eat everything and anything living in your tank. Shrimp, crabs, snails, fish..everything. There is no species of octopus that can be kept peacefully with other inhabitants.

They also require a special setup, they can and will escape through tiny openings.

The average life span is 6 months to two years at the longest, kind of a deal breaker for a lot of people.

Well, that pretty much takes care of that. Thank you for the honest answer. I inquired at lfs a month or so ago and of course, he was willing to sell me one on the spot.