Anyone have an Octopus as a pet?

Question

I am considering getting a tank set up and getting a Caribbean Reef Octopus- Look it up on google, because i dont know if im allowed to put urls in my questions- but does anyone have some advice for me to get started? I really want this animal- does anyone have any advice about keeping them as pets? are they a huge hassle? ( i know they have a short life span) When i get one i want it to be as comfortable as possible so let me know people

Answer 1

Since you already know about the life span, the only other info you should know are that they are very intelligent and you need to find things for them to occupy themselves. A bored octopus isn't a happy animal, and they'll find ways to amuse themselves that you won't like (and won't necessarily be good for them - like escaping from their tank).

I haven't kept them myself, but know of a person who did, so I heard his stories. I'll post a few accounts by octopus owners below, you you can get an idea from their experiences:

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=78
http://www.tonmo.com/cephcare/keepingcephs/keepingcephs.php
http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/guest/toonen/QA_Octopus.htm

Answer 2

Octopus are incredibly intelligent animals. Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine just devoted a large section of a recent issue to keeping Octopus. This was an issue I received within the last 3 months. Contact your local pet shops or TFH and get an issue. It was very good.

Answer 3

Octopus are extremely hard to keep. Not only are they very intollerant of water quality issues, often they are very, very finicky eaters.

I wouldn't recommend this to a beginner.

Answer 4

Octupuses are extremply hard animal to take care of..You might want to start something a little easier, don't move up so quick...

Answer 5

try other marine fish before you buy an octopus, as they can grow quite large and is very hard to take care of.