Thoughts on owning an octopus?

[Wunderpus]

Lots. They need to eat A LOT to remain healthy. A LOT. Like 6 times a day kind of thing. Otherwise they get lethargic and can get floaty and die. I am not aware of anyone supplying babies to the hobby right now, and I don't recommend anyone getting wild caught adults. There are several articles about them on my site. Let me know if direct links are helpful.

Hmm, that is a deterrent for sure. I only see them wild caught from wholesalers...

 

[Jon Fishman]

Lots. They need to eat A LOT to remain healthy. A LOT. Like 6 times a day kind of thing. Otherwise they get lethargic and can get floaty and die. I am not aware of anyone supplying babies to the hobby right now, and I don't recommend anyone getting wild caught adults. There are several articles about them on my site. Let me know if direct links are helpful.

This doesn’t apply to Octopi (Pygmy Atl. specifically) just the cuttlefish right?

 

[Thales]

Hmm, that is a deterrent for sure. I only see them wild caught from wholesalers...

I would avoid those like the plague. Adults at the end of their lives. Ship horribly, stress, and die quickly. Shame.

 

[Thales]

This doesn’t apply to Octopi (Pygmy Atl. specifically) just the cuttlefish right?

Yeah, the octopuses don't need to be fed as often, and can often be moved to frozen food. Metasepia, not so much.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Quick question now that this is becoming a reality.....

How would one go about acclimating an Atlantic Pygmy Octopus???? Float and release, or will I need to try to drip acclimate without it scurrying away?!!!

 

[Thales]

Quick question now that this is becoming a reality.....

How would one go about acclimating an Atlantic Pygmy Octopus???? Float and release, or will I need to try to drip acclimate without it scurrying away?!!!

Generally I float for temp. Then open the bag, add a cup of tank water and then close the bag again, repeat. Ammonia can be problematic so I don't do long acclimations, just get temp and salinity close.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Generally I float for temp. Then open the bag, add a cup of tank water and then close the bag again, repeat. Ammonia can be problematic so I don't do long acclimations, just get temp and salinity close.

Ammonia a problem if I am getting it locally? It’s not being shipped

 

[Thales]

Ammonia a problem if I am getting it locally? It’s not being shipped

Sorry, i deleted some stuff, but left that by accident! No worries in that case