Blue ringed Octopus / Hapalochlaena Lunulata

Lunulata · May 20, 2016

Hi Guys

as in my introduction thread mentioned and wished a new topic for the Blue Ringed Octopus.
Does anybody keep or kept such species?

I had a try quite a while ago.
See the pic below

As they live just 2 years in total, the build up for a special tank (escape proof!) is enormous.
BRO are very interested in everything, so you cant use common stream pumps.
They go close to it due to its interest and get cut by the spinning weels insite the pump and die.
So I used a closed Loop which I intergrated in my setup. I looked for hiding spots but visible for me when I look insite the tank. Easier to say than to do, BRO can hide like everywhere.

One of my vid. on my YouTube channel

->
As they are very poisonous, this animal is not for everybody.
A good catch up on informations about BRO is very important.
A bit from the BRO can kill you very fast!
There is no antivenom available!

The Tetrodotoxin which is produced by bacteria in BROs makes you die in short time.
After a bite you suffocate at fully awareness.
BROs have 2 different toxin, one for attaker which I just described.
As well as they have another toxin for deaden their potential food.

For now, I dont have a BRO, but will do another project with this very intelligent and interesting creatures again one day, thats for sure

Cheers Mirco

tomtom2245 · May 20, 2016

Very cool! I got to chance to dive and see one of these guys up close and personnel in the wild while in Indonesia.

Kimkjaer · May 20, 2016

Cool thread, do you have some FTS ?
This is very interesting, i wouldn't want a BRO my self, due to the danger. but it's still fascinating to read, about your project

Lunulata · May 20, 2016

do you mean full tank shot

?
sry I usually speak German

Kimkjaer · May 20, 2016

Lunulata said:
do you mean full tank shot ?
sry I usually speak German

Yes that is what i mean

Haha i really like the sticker, how did you make it escape proof ?

Lunulata · May 20, 2016

I glued a frame around the glass, then a plate on top with a sealing.
I used a Tunze Led which can be used in and out the water. Not so much heat generation with this one, I hoped when i baught it.
In the topplate I put in some very fine mesh in, for the potential heat to release.
Skimmer is behind the ceramic-wall, as well as the pump for the closed Loop.... the pipes for that are insite the ceramic as well.
The water gets into the technical part of the tank through a filter sponge.

rayn · May 20, 2016

Very cool. I've been interested in these guys.

BoB_25 · May 20, 2016

Awesome...I seen one in a my LFS...however it wasn't for sale, came in as a hitch hiker....I believe they flushed it.

rantipole · May 20, 2016

Amazing animal but having it would freak me out too much. Then again, I'd keep a gila monster or some of the tree vipers, so who am I to judge.

Cheers,
rant

michellejy · May 20, 2016

Thank you for sharing. Octopuses are my favorite creatures. I even have two octopus tattoos

tomtom2245 · May 20, 2016

What did you primarily feed it and how did you go about doing it? I'm always fascinated with those that take care of a cephalopod in the home aquarium. Here's a photo I took of the one we spotted while diving. My wife was mad as this was the one dive she didn't go on, and then mad at me for getting so close

FL_Reefer · May 24, 2016

I give you props for having this octopus, I would be so freaked out everytime I put my hand in the tank. I don't even want to touch the pic of it, lol

Eaj1001 · May 24, 2016

The

Lunulata said:
Hi Guys
as in my introduction thread mentioned and wished a new topic for the Blue Ringed Octopus.
Does anybody keep or kept such species?

I had a try quite a while ago.
See the pic below

As they live just 2 years in total, the build up for a special tank (escape proof!) is enormous.
BRO are very interested in everything, so you cant use common stream pumps.
They go close to it due to its interest and get cut by the spinning weels insite the pump and die.
So I used a closed Loop which I intergrated in my setup. I looked for hiding spots but visible for me when I look insite the tank. Easier to say than to do, BRO can hide like everywhere.

One of my vid. on my YouTube channel ->
As they are very poisonous, this animal is not for everybody.
A good catch up on informations about BRO is very important.
A bit from the BRO can kill you very fast!
There is no antivenom available!

The Tetrodotoxin which is produced by bacteria in BROs makes you die in short time.
After a bite you suffocate at fully awareness.
BROs have 2 different toxin, one for attaker which I just described.
As well as they have another toxin for deaden their potential food.

For now, I dont have a BRO, but will do another project with this very intelligent and interesting creatures again one day, thats for sure

Cheers Mirco

They're very cool but too dangerous for me!

Lunulata · May 27, 2016

tomtom2245 said:
What did you primarily feed it and how did you go about doing it? I'm always fascinated with those that take care of a cephalopod in the home aquarium. Here's a photo I took of the one we spotted while diving. My wife was mad as this was the one dive she didn't go on, and then mad at me for getting so close

I fed hermit crabs as well as life shrims (varians).
Hermit crabs there where plenty in the tank. He helpt himself to get those.
I could get very tiny ones.
Frozen Shrimps was good as well, fed this with a pincers.
He ate like every 3rd day.

Tanked_Life · May 27, 2016

now when feeding with pincers he wouldn't try to climb out and stick to them? Also I see coral, does that mean you put your hand in that tank with him freely around?

LadAShark · Jun 10, 2016

rantipole said:
Amazing animal but having it would freak me out too much. Then again, I'd keep a gila monster or some of the tree vipers, so who am I to judge.

Cheers,
rant

Blue Ring Octopus
Viper
One of the two above creatures has a cure to their venom. One doesn't.

Lunulata · Jun 11, 2016

Tanked_Life said:
now when feeding with pincers he wouldn't try to climb out and stick to them? Also I see coral, does that mean you put your hand in that tank with him freely around?

he wouldnt try to climp out.
if he does, I toke the pincers out of the water. This one time he did this, he let himself fallen back to the water.

BRO is not aggressive, I could have my hand in the tank, when I see where he is.
Make sure he is fine and not flashing its ring. When he feels pleasant, its ok to have hands in. I used cevlar gloves just to be safe.
BRO can bite throuh neopren.

LadAShark · Jun 11, 2016

Lunulata said:
he wouldnt try to climp out.
if he does, I toke the pincers out of the water. This one time he did this, he let himself fallen back to the water.

BRO is not aggressive, I could have my hand in the tank, when I see where he is.
Make sure he is fine and not flashing its ring. When he feels pleasant, its ok to have hands in. I used cevlar gloves just to be safe.
BRO can bite throuh neopren.

Researchers don't allow less than two people in a room with a Blue Ring Octopus at a time. Just safety procedure. If anything goes wrong, you might lose your life.