octopus in a reef tank?
- Thread starter hnguyen
- Start date
The octo didnt get a choice....but your bro...:bash:
I posted on TONMO for ya and here is a response....I have an accli-mate but its on loan to misu atm..your welcome to use it when he is done
"My first thought was to limit where it can get its food supply. I would try the accli-mate, foster and smith have these. Once it gets used to the food being there I think it shouldnt be a problem. One other thing... it could be nocturnal... if it is then its not going to come out until the lights are off... your friend should be up late to watch (after 12) Try using red lights on the tank at night so he can see. Good luck"
I'm up late most of te time until 12 but after it will have to be on the weekends. Allen at Atlanta reef let me borrow a trap but that didn't work out. If you have a better one j can borrow than that would be great. Also. Where can I find the silversides to use as bait? I've never heard of them before
Whew, I finally caught up. I don't know why someone didn't PM me but thanks gnashty for popping in to TONMO with the summary.
First, I guess I should give my qualifications so that you will have a little confidence in my analysis. As several have mentioned, I keep octopuses and have done so for over 4 years. I have kept 4 (I think, maybe 5) O.briareus through their sesenence and am the only person I know to have successfully raised two hatchlings through 4 months.
Now, a few rational questions and a few suggestions. You said someting about almond size and then stated that you actually saw the animal. Using an object as reference (like a dime, nickle, quarter), how big was the mantle (the part after the eyes that is the body but most people think it is the head)? How LONG was the longest arm you saw? About how thick was the arm. I know you can't be accurate but give my your best guess as it will help determine what it will likely eat in your tank.
Thoughts on catching it. I have never had to trap a briareus so I have to go by what I know of their typical denning behavior. O. briareus are crepuscular (early evening/morning) to nocturnal and they don't like bright light so to keep one away from something, add light 24/7. To direct it to something, provide a dark environment, preferably one you can remove (like an empty conch shell or a piece of black PVC with a cap on one end). If you can put the dark trap in the back or into LR without a lot of disruption, that might help. Unfortunately, I have had no luck trying to feed them with dead food by just leaving it available in the tank so baiting a trap with dead food is not likely to help. They don't seem to see well either so if they don't feel the food animal "scratching", or find it serendipitously by putting arms in the LR they don't tend to find intended food.
Snails are not typically their favorite food so it will likely move on to something else soon but knowing the size of the animal will help make the call. Until you catch it, keeping it well fed will help, but, as you will note from CaptFish's article, at about 6 months they will start decimating your tank. Your corals are not much of a concern at this point.
Lastly, where are you in Atlanta. Since Chris has volunteered to try to extract this little gem, I am hoping that means you are close by.
First, I guess I should give my qualifications so that you will have a little confidence in my analysis. As several have mentioned, I keep octopuses and have done so for over 4 years. I have kept 4 (I think, maybe 5) O.briareus through their sesenence and am the only person I know to have successfully raised two hatchlings through 4 months.
Now, a few rational questions and a few suggestions. You said someting about almond size and then stated that you actually saw the animal. Using an object as reference (like a dime, nickle, quarter), how big was the mantle (the part after the eyes that is the body but most people think it is the head)? How LONG was the longest arm you saw? About how thick was the arm. I know you can't be accurate but give my your best guess as it will help determine what it will likely eat in your tank.
Thoughts on catching it. I have never had to trap a briareus so I have to go by what I know of their typical denning behavior. O. briareus are crepuscular (early evening/morning) to nocturnal and they don't like bright light so to keep one away from something, add light 24/7. To direct it to something, provide a dark environment, preferably one you can remove (like an empty conch shell or a piece of black PVC with a cap on one end). If you can put the dark trap in the back or into LR without a lot of disruption, that might help. Unfortunately, I have had no luck trying to feed them with dead food by just leaving it available in the tank so baiting a trap with dead food is not likely to help. They don't seem to see well either so if they don't feel the food animal "scratching", or find it serendipitously by putting arms in the LR they don't tend to find intended food.
Snails are not typically their favorite food so it will likely move on to something else soon but knowing the size of the animal will help make the call. Until you catch it, keeping it well fed will help, but, as you will note from CaptFish's article, at about 6 months they will start decimating your tank. Your corals are not much of a concern at this point.
Lastly, where are you in Atlanta. Since Chris has volunteered to try to extract this little gem, I am hoping that means you are close by.
Hey dwhatley! Thanks for dropping by and trying to help. As I stated, I did see the octopus but not its full body. It was sandwiched under a rock and some sand. From what I could see of it, the mantle looks to be about in between a nickle and a quarter. As for the legs, it was pretty wrapped up around itself but I could guess somewhere along the line of an inch? (so much to fit it on top of a dim like the guy that sold it to my brother said huh)? I'm not to sure of the thickness of the arms, but if I had to make a guess I could say around 1/8" or somewhere along that line. When i saw it, it was at the back corner of my tank, I tryed to run for a light but by the time I got one he was already gone. Ever since than I would keep on looking at the stop but I never saw it again. Out of the 2 weeks its been in my tank I've only seen it once.
Now as for catching it. What do you think would be the best way to do so? You think I should cut a piece of pvc and put a cap on one end and maybe a string on the other? I no nothing about octopus and nothing about catching them. so any help would be great.
I know I stated before that someone from fish scales offered to come and catch it, but he never pulled through. I have not heard from him since. I start to worry more as time goes by because from what I understand, these things grow pretty fast right?
Lastly, I'm located near atlanta, just a bit north of the city really. I'm in the gwinnett area.
Now as for catching it. What do you think would be the best way to do so? You think I should cut a piece of pvc and put a cap on one end and maybe a string on the other? I no nothing about octopus and nothing about catching them. so any help would be great.
I know I stated before that someone from fish scales offered to come and catch it, but he never pulled through. I have not heard from him since. I start to worry more as time goes by because from what I understand, these things grow pretty fast right?
Lastly, I'm located near atlanta, just a bit north of the city really. I'm in the gwinnett area.
I am in Gainesville so you are not too far should we decide on an octo safari. The sizing you gave me is a bit puzzlilng so I want you to look at my journal at a photo of my hatchlings over a quarter. A nickle to quarter sized mantle and a one inch arm don't match for O.briareus. There are two other possibilities if the animal came from the Caribbean (and I am assuming it did) that would fit better with your guestimate on mantle to arm ratio. One is the little nocturnal dwarf, O. mercatoris and is a pretty benign little guy and the other is a diurnal animal and a real prize that I would very much like to take off your hands 
.
I can't post any more photos since I am not an official member but I can give you links to photos of all three species. Note the arm length to mantle length and the general coloration (color, in young ones especially is not particularly diagnositic though)
http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?20568-Kooah-s-Hatchlings-O.briareus&p=158619&viewfull=1#post158619">Here is a link to the briareus hatchlings</a>
[IMG]http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?10133-Trapper-s-Babies-Tank-Raised-Mercatoris&p=110124&viewfull=1#post110124">Here is a link to a pair of my mercatoris</a>
[IMG]http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?21232-Monty-O.-Hummelincki&p=163992&viewfull=1#post163992">Here is a link to O.hummelincki</a>
Try to remember what you saw (did you seen any green sparkles?) and look at the three different species and tell me which one looks closest to what you remember.
Forget any kind of "string" or spring trap. If we can get it to den in a pipe or a shell (a conch shell may work well) then it will be a simple matter of picking up the trap when it is in residence. It won't hurt you :D
. I can't post any more photos since I am not an official member but I can give you links to photos of all three species. Note the arm length to mantle length and the general coloration (color, in young ones especially is not particularly diagnositic though)
http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?20568-Kooah-s-Hatchlings-O.briareus&p=158619&viewfull=1#post158619">Here is a link to the briareus hatchlings</a>
[IMG]http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?10133-Trapper-s-Babies-Tank-Raised-Mercatoris&p=110124&viewfull=1#post110124">Here is a link to a pair of my mercatoris</a>
[IMG]http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?21232-Monty-O.-Hummelincki&p=163992&viewfull=1#post163992">Here is a link to O.hummelincki</a>
Try to remember what you saw (did you seen any green sparkles?) and look at the three different species and tell me which one looks closest to what you remember.
Forget any kind of "string" or spring trap. If we can get it to den in a pipe or a shell (a conch shell may work well) then it will be a simple matter of picking up the trap when it is in residence. It won't hurt you :D
Thank you Dwhately for coming over to help out...I was going to PM you on TONMO but see you are quite active over there and would find my post in no time..
Hnguyen - the expert is here, if you do what you are told then you should have em out in no time....I guess my trap is not going to help you but i would get on the PVC den ASAP - should be expensive at all..
D - see you over at TONMO...continuing my research on cephs, Only thing holding me back right now is life span, I am devastated if a fish dies after years...not sure I can handle a pet death every 6 mo to a year.....
Hnguyen - the expert is here, if you do what you are told then you should have em out in no time....I guess my trap is not going to help you but i would get on the PVC den ASAP - should be expensive at all..
D - see you over at TONMO...continuing my research on cephs, Only thing holding me back right now is life span, I am devastated if a fish dies after years...not sure I can handle a pet death every 6 mo to a year.....
Well according to the guy that sold it to my brother, he said that it was a Briareus octopus but from what I remember, it looks like a O. Hummelincki from your pictures. I could be wrong since I only saw it for a few sec. So much for being reef safe. I'm angry. If you don't mind coming down and helping me catch it, than I'll be happy to go on an acto safari with you. I can compensate for your gas or I can give you the octopus if we're able to catch it. Limme know and I'll PM you my info.
Thanks,
Hoang
Thanks,
Hoang
dwhatley;567529 wrote: I am in Gainesville so you are not too far should we decide on an octo safari. The sizing you gave me is a bit puzzlilng so I want you to look at my journal at a photo of my hatchlings over a quarter. A nickle to quarter sized mantle and a one inch arm don't match for O.briareus. There are two other possibilities if the animal came from the Caribbean (and I am assuming it did) that would fit better with your guestimate on mantle to arm ratio. One is the little nocturnal dwarf, O. mercatoris and is a pretty benign little guy and the other is a diurnal animal and a real prize that I would very much like to take off your hands
I can't post any more photos since I am not an official member but I can give you links to photos of all three species. Note the arm length to mantle length and the general coloration (color, in young ones especially is not particularly diagnositic though)
http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?20568-Kooah-s-Hatchlings-O.briareus&p=158619&viewfull=1#post158619">Here is a link to the briareus hatchlings</a>
[IMG]http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?10133-Trapper-s-Babies-Tank-Raised-Mercatoris&p=110124&viewfull=1#post110124">Here is a link to a pair of my mercatoris</a>
[IMG]http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?21232-Monty-O.-Hummelincki&p=163992&viewfull=1#post163992">Here is a link to O.hummelincki</a>
Try to remember what you saw (did you seen any green sparkles?) and look at the three different species and tell me which one looks closest to what you remember.
Forget any kind of "string" or spring trap. If we can get it to den in a pipe or a shell (a conch shell may work well) then it will be a simple matter of picking up the trap when it is in residence. It won't hurt you :D[/QUOTE]
I'm hooked on this thread! It's like turning in to an episode of the "search for the reef octopus", can't wait to see how things turn out and what species you are dealing with! BTW, I am hoping it turns out ok for all your fish and the octopus.
BZ
BZ
I am a staff member on TONMO so it is always a good way to reach me but a PM from here will hit my email quickly.
I wish I could present a better picture of lifespan but there is not one and the deaths are hard, especially with a particularly interactive animal. I won't even claim you "get used to it" because you don't. With good care, they live longer, healthier lives in captivity but the biological clock is an oddity in this animal and likely why I keep (as well as some of our other TONMO members) multiples. There is a gland that regulates sexual maturity and ages them rapidly. Several experiments have shown that removal will double longevity but we have yet to come up with a way to do this non-surgically.
I wish I could present a better picture of lifespan but there is not one and the deaths are hard, especially with a particularly interactive animal. I won't even claim you "get used to it" because you don't. With good care, they live longer, healthier lives in captivity but the biological clock is an oddity in this animal and likely why I keep (as well as some of our other TONMO members) multiples. There is a gland that regulates sexual maturity and ages them rapidly. Several experiments have shown that removal will double longevity but we have yet to come up with a way to do this non-surgically.
That should work. I have a hatchling that denned in my inflow pipe untill he out grew it last week. I think that is 1". If you have a small conch shell (3 or 4 inches long) or even a dark container about that size you can try multiple "dens". For the PVC, probably 4 to 5 inches and don't bother with glue on the cap.
Do remember that I have not TRIED this AND the you will need to flood the tank with light 24/7 to encourage leaving the current location. I think I would introduce the trap(s) for a day or two using your normal cycle and then leave the lights on and add extra lighting wherever you can. Hopefully it will have explored and found the new hidey holes when the lights start to annoy it.
Don't be tempted to put the traps so your can "peek" in
and leave them a day or two after you keep the lights on all night. When you decide to pull the traps you will need some place to put it. I would prefer that you did not destroy the animal and, if push comes to shove, will come collect it at any hour but if you have a filter sock, a spare pump and some PVC pipe and 90 degree connections you can make an effective holding facility. Make an S from 4 PVC 90's and two pieces of pipe so that you can hang the sock from the side of the tank. Put in something to keep it open at the bottom (bag of charcoal works) and keep half the sock above the water line (this is my sump arrangement and your sump would be the ideal place. Run water into the sock with a small pump. A jar with lots of holes can also be used but there must be good water flow and holes smaller than they eye (the eye is not the restricting factor but the beak is about the same size). A critter keeper will not work with one this small.
Whatever you use, put it in the sump and not the main tank :lol2:
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