O. briareus (new to Cephalopods)

[GoBigOrGoHome]

Hello everyone. New to cephalopods, and I'm just wondering what everyone's thoughts are for a good first octo for someone just starting out. So far, I've heard briareus (sometimes joubini as well?), and I've found them for sale on a couple websites. I would like to know if you agree that briareus is good for a first Ceph, and if anyone's got any experience with http://www.tomscaribbean.com/index.html , the site from which I'm contemplating buying. The briareus will have a 75-gallon tank to himself with a few echinoderms (which I've heard they usually don't eat?), urchins, stars, cucumbers, sand dollar, etc. , Cassiopeia jellies, and a few other inverts that will serve as a first food for my octo. Any concerns about keeping this animal with any of these other inverts, advice on keeping this species, or experience with this vendor, please share. Thanks in advance.

 

[hobogato]

you might want to post this question on tonmo.com as well - lots of ceph experts there

 

[Lmecher]

I believe joubini is a dwarf. O. braireus is a nice octopus to start with. On tonmo.com you can read journals written by folks who own them. And by the way tomscarribean.com has a good reputation. I believe he gets them from crab fishermen who would otherwise just kill them. Good luck and when you get one please share your experience on tonmo.com, look forward to seeing you there.

 

[GoBigOrGoHome]

Yeah, I just joined TONMO a few days ago, and I've been browsing the site quite a bit. Just decided to post these questions here because it's a much more active forum. You can count on seeing my name appear on TONMO in the future. Thanks for the tips. Much appreciated.

Kyle

 

[GoBigOrGoHome]

Ordered one! Hopefully it will arrive on Wednesday! Thanks for the help!

 

[GoBigOrGoHome]

Shipping was reasonable and prompt, but I'm not too happy that I've got a dead octopus 5 hours after arrival. I'm pretty sad...

 

[marinerules]

they arent wonderful shippers, sometimes they make it , sometimes they dont ,

the smaller they are , to me , the better they ship

 

[Koshmar]

It's usually best to get them from a lfs rather than ship. It's rare but you can find some that have an octopus in. I got my cuttlefish from a lfs and a clutch of eggs (which generally ship better than adults).