keepin octopuses at home

[hottielover14]

well i would be getting the 2 spotted octopus which is considered to be the best one for the home aquarium...they aren't as hard as they seem according to the people on www.tonmo.com..

[Birdlady]

Originally Posted by hottielover14

well jason i do know that they are expert only but i have read other people that weren't experts that kept them..i already have a good set up i just need to octopus proof it..they are awsome..i've had fish before, i mean i've had everything from lionfish to manderians, seahorses to tangs, from star fish to crabs, from zoo's to brain corals...i know im not really as experience as u jason but they are awsome and i luv animals..u neva know it could live and be healthy in my care...i have read a lot about them but i just wanted some info from people that maybe have them..

Now, HL, I am not trying to be mean, BUT,

Your first statement..."I do know...BUT" is how most of your posts ignoring the advice given to you start.

You have had all those creatures you listed, well let me recall...

Jellyfish (presumed dead)
Clam - dead
Cheatomorpha - dead
Brain Coral - dead
Elegance Coral - dead
Blue Acropora - dead
Percula Clown - missing, presumed dead
Flame Scallop - ??
Xenia - dead
and I am sure I don't have a complete list here.

I am actually impressed that you still have your mandarin. Is it the same one from last winter? Now, none of us are perfect, and we have all had losses, but we try and learn from them so as not to make them again!

Time and time again,you ask us for advice and then say "I know, but...." and do not follow any advice given you. I don't know what I can offer you.

Why did your reef fail? If you don't know, and cannot keep even the simplest of reef creatures, why and how do you plan to keep a cephalapod?
How do you plan to keep it on it's side of the sectioned tank? If there is any space large enough for it's beak, it will get through and eat your fish! It can
squeeze out the lid and end up carpet surfing, and die.

What are you looking for from us here at 3 Reef?

Please consider this as an attempt to save more creatures from death, and not a total slam to you. Please stop, think, slow down! LET us help you!

[fletch]

Hottielover14

How many of the above mentioned animals are still living?? I love animals also, That is why we are all telling you not to get them just to see if you can keep them, Why don't you just get an alligator and try to keep it in your bath tub?? John

[hottielover14]

ya talk about being blunt...lol..but im a big boy i can handle it..and i understand that some of my animals have died and no i have always listened to u guys advice and i came up wit a decision...yes my manderian is the same as last winter and my blue tang is alive too...u guys were right about the jellyfish cuz nobody has said that they have kept them alive and ya i was dumb for tryiing and i did learn my lesson....but lots of people have kept octopuses alive in the same kind of aquarium set up as mine..well the reason that my acro died was cuz those were to hard but the brain, clam and elegant died cuz my flame angel kept picking on them...i know i have made some mistakes but like u said u onlly learn from making them...my reef failed yes, but it wasn't my lack of knowledge or ignoring ur info...it was my choices of fish and corals together also wit keepin the calcium up and steady, that's why i think it would be easier to just have species tank....they aren't as hard to keep from what i'v heard from other people that have them...they do require live shrimp or clams and very good water quaility and a very secure lid..those are the only hard qualiies that i can find..

[Birdlady]

Your clam died because you refused to listen to advice about your inadequate lighting at the time.

Do what you will. I give up.

[Bruce]

i think that instead of trying a octopi, you should keep trying with the reef, just go slow, get ur levels up and steady and well now ur lighting looks fine for almost all corals, just take it slow and make sure u only get reef safe stuff...dont give up!

[hottielover14]

ur right birdlady i didn't have the right lighting the first time i had them but when i got one the second time i already had MH's and it died cuz my fish picked on it...well i put a lot of money into all the corals and fish and stuff and to have it all die is pretty upsetting..im a very patient person but even that is to much...i also don't have the money now to keep trying the reef, i can't afford the loss...i have gotten reef safe corals but for some reason they have all died...i might try soft corals cuz they don't really need calcium do they?..like xenias or something..i never said that i was sure that i was gonna get a octopus but they did sound very neat and not to bad on the care from what i have read...but i dunno what im gonna do for sure..im still thinking about it

[Birdlady]

Are you having difficulty maintaining your calcium levels? I don't know if softies "need" calcium to live, but the waters they come from certainly have calcium in it.

Xenias need supplemental iodine (with a test kit for accurating dosing and overdosing prevention)

You state you cannot afford the loss of more corals. From what I recall, you would impulse purchase multiple animals on a given day. Why not start with one coral? One you have researched, and like?

Have you given any thought to finding a local reef club? Frags can be had for cheap, if not free - as can their hands-on advice and help. I have, in the last year, gone from the one receiving frags at my reef club, to one providing frags to new reefers.

[hottielover14]

ya my calcium levels won't stay stable...ya i don't think softies need calcium added.??...ya i have all the chemicals..i have calcium, alk buffer, iodine, strontium and coral dip...should i try xenias again?..i really like how they look..they are very pretty..im tempted to try an brain coral again but i dunno cuz they require high cal and stuff and there harder..but they are soo awsome but i don't wanna risk losing them again..so i might get like xenia and some other softies for now anyway...maybe a clam..

[hottielover14]

hey birdlady, i was looking at these on liveaquaria.com...i might get these..there easy and neat at the sametime...what do u think?


SW - Green Striped Mushroom - Medium
SW - Green Fluorescent Mushroom - Medium
SW - Starburst Polyp, Green - Medium
CF - Pumping Xenia Coral - Aquacultured ORA
SW - Linckia Sea Star, Blue (Fiji) - Medium
SW - Peppermint Shrimp
SW - Ocellaris Clownfish - Medium