Octo tank questions.

[sundance1]

Our LFS has had an octopus for sale a few diferent times over the last few years.My wife loves to sit and "play" with them.I do not know exactly what kind they are,but they are the same everytime he gets them in.After being begged for close to 2 years now,I am finally considering setting up an octo tank for her.Does anybody have any sugestions and to what to use/don't use?Tank size?Substrate?Skimmer?Filtration?Heater?Temp and salinity?Food source?
I am just now starting to research the whole octo thing and it will be several months,I am sure,till we get one.I want to do it right the FIRST time,so I am asking questions NOW! I do have a 125 reef that is doing great,so I know the very basics,but I am sure keeping an octo is way diferent than keeping a reef.
Thanks in advance to all who reply,I would be lost without the wonderful folks at "Reef Central".

 

[Black96WS6]

First, bookmark this site: www.tonmo.com.

Second, if you're going to get an octopus, make sure it's a bimac. They live longer and are less prone to escape.

Octos don't live very long, and they aren't out all the time like normal fish. So make sure you know what you're getting into first. If you want something you can see all the time, an octopus is not for you.

Here are some pics of my octopus: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/1951/thomaspics.htm

 

[Black96WS6]

More pics

 

[blackangler]

www.tonmo.com will be the best place to get your questions answered. a bimac which is the reccomended octo needs a tank of at least 50 gallons. and a temp below 75 degree's, it will need a powerful protine skimmer, and substrate is not realy an issue but in my experience i would use fine coral sand. they eat quite alot and are messy eaters, i would feed fiddler crabs, smails, hermit crabs.......

 

[sundance1]

Would it be possible to go BB with an octo tank?

 

[DHyslop]

I don't think you'd want to. I think the animal would be much happier with substrate to walk around on and remodel a little bit.

Dan

 

[mejiggery]

Not sure how big your octopus is but i have old barnicle shells on sand, gives plenty of hiding places and makes the hunting a bit better to keep it occupied. I am also new at this only in first month of having mine so i'm sure other people may have much better ideas.

 

[sundance1]

I don't have one yet,still researching and looking for a tank.

 

[mebeigel]

sundance- i've taken care of dozens of octopuses, as i used to do research on cephalopods. I strongly suggest setting up a tank that has an "enriched habitat". By that i mean have a den for the octopus to reside in. They like to have their own territory in the tank (like a flower pot or something) and give them shells to play with also. They need to have a cooler tank (20 C) and fine sand as a substrate (since they like to burrow). I would use at least a 40 gallon (even for a bimac). Protein skimmers are good and the salinity should be at around 1.024. I would use a canister since it is easier to seal. Make sure the tank is escape proof! Octos are also nocturnal so they won't be out as much as you might want, but they are very smart. They can get through a space as big as their tiny beak can fit through. Good luck!