Octopus Cage Idea

[Mclendonmdw1]

OK, Tell me what you think about this idea. I have been toying with the idea of creating a fully secured octopus ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œcageââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ when I upgrade my 55g to a 90g at the end of the summer. According to Dr. Fosters& Smith they stock an octopus that grow to only 14ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚. The idea is to have two tanks, a main display tank that sits on top of the stand ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œobviouslyââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ and an octopus tank on the bottom. The stand would be designed to give full view of the 55g octopus refuge on the bottom with only 2 -4x4 post on either end for proper support. The idea is to create a FOLR set up on the bottom and a reef on top. I would only use actinic lighting and provide as much live rock as possible. I would also be open to the idea of having two stand alone systems that appear to be a refuge type setup. I think itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s important to keep the tank low as it may help create an exclusionary cave type zone for the animal. As far as inking goes, I assume it only happens under agitation. So if I accidentally caused the animal to ink I could just shut down the return pump to the main display, there fore isolating the contaminated water. I have an unlimited supply of free salt water from a local research facility, so water replacement is not a huge issue. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s just a logistical pain to replace any more than 40 or 50 gallons, But it can be done in 2 runs.

I would appreciate any input especially from anyone that knows the physiology of octopus such as diet and metabolic rate.

 

[Steven Pro]

You might want to take a look at this,
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2003/invert.htm

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I see a few problems with this. The return pump and the drain pipe being the biggest factors. How are you going to adequately secure the drain pipe and the return pump so the octopus can not get in? How are you going to put a secure cover over the tank? Also, I would venture guess that anyone that walks by the aquarium would aggitate the octopus more than having someone looking in. With it placed so low, it would do both. Also, it would sense fish and invertebrates it could possibly eat and go nuts trying to get to them by ripping off semi-secured hazards and/or pushing tops off.

As cool as it sounds, I think it won't work. Sorry to let you down

 

[Mclendonmdw1]

Thanks for the input. I agree that things must be absolutely secure. I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t think that would be much of a problem as I have a degree in civil engineering, and Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m vary good as far as "thinking through the issues". As far as the foot traffic goes the system is not in a high traffic area, and with adequate rock work and hiding places i think he might feel pretty safe. Good point on the ambient scent of other creatures in the system, if that becomes an issue i may have to go with an isolated system.

Thanks for the link I'll check it out.
Anny one else?

 

[poedag]

i heard a crazy idea a while back that worked for me and a pigmy bimac. i put strips of astroturf around the edges of the tank/skimmer/light/ everything. so if the octo wanted to get out, she had to touch the astroturf. for some reason she hated it and never got out. i had her more than a year in an open top 20g tank rimmed with astroturf. i'm not saying that it will work for larger octos, but for my pigmy it seemed to do the trick. FWIW she was tiny, her mantle was mayne the size of a penny with arms ~1.5-2cm long. and she was the only inhabitant other than corals and her food, tiny hermits.

 

[jiggy]

an octopus must cause some crazy nitrates

 

[CaptiveReef]

Octopus Cage Idea

Creating a holding cage for an Octopus, is a great idea. It can be done, always use this formula when dealing with an Octopus. The Octopus's beak is the only thing that limits it's ability to squeeze through small openings. If the beaks fits they could get the rest of the body through.
Also make sure there is good water flow in the cage.

CaptiveReef

 

[mano]

Astroturf is pretty common in public aquarium octopus displays. I've raised bimac octos and most of the time they would stay in their dens (we used pvc pipes) but it is possible for them to try to escape. If you can find a cultured octopus chances are better that it will stay in the tank. Octos are pretty smart and they will associate you with food and get used to people looking in their tank also.

As for foods they will eat fiddler crabs, hermit crabs, clams and fish. Will you have a protein skimmer connected to the octopus cage/tank? I would recommend it in case it does ink. In my experience octos ink far less than cuttlefish, which tend to remain in the water column more so they get scared more easily.

Good luck!

 

[poedag]

FYI mine was TR

 

[maxalmon]

How about building a tight fiting plexi cover shaped much like a lid off a box, then use plastic thumb screws on two sides with the holes drilled far enough down so that when tightened they are just below the black plastic rim of the tank. Or you could make it so that the holes drilled thru the lid match up with the plastic rim and actually go into it. Then use a 1/8 or 1/16 drill bit and drill several hundred holes in the top of the lid, mount a fan to blow down on the lid to push air thru. Just a thought