pinkfloydpuffer

I was just wondering if anyone on here has ever kept an octopus or knows someone who has. I think that it would be so cool to have one! I hear they make great pets, at least if you get the right variety (not Blue-ringed or Giant Pacific obviously). I'll probably try to get one someday down the road... Just wondering if anyone knows anything about them!

MousePotato

I don't know much about saltwater setups in general, but I've heard octopi require a lot of care. They are very intelligent and genuine escape artists! They are recommended only for very experienced aquarists.

Also, Husband says they're very tasty.

sirdarksol

Mousepotato's right. They are absolutely genius. They possess problem solving skills that match a monkey's (and many octopi only live a year or so.) They can open a Coke bottle with their tentacles. They have been observed climbing out of their tanks, crossing a room to climb into another tank, eating the fish in tank #2, and then crossing back to their own tanks.
They absolutely need a tank that has a lockable top or several feet of sheer plexiglass from the surface of the water to the edge of the tank.

In addition, they are extremely sensitive to water quality.

I plan on eventually keeping cephalopods, but I plan to start with cuttlefish.

pinkfloydpuffer

Yeah, I know they'd be hard to keep. It would be so cool to have one though! But most of this is just day dreaming really...

MousePotato

There is nothing wrong with a little daydreaming - unless you're driving on the Interstate. If you are thinking about it now, maybe you can do some research and educate yourself so someday you will be able to care for one. I have some dream fish, too, but I know I'm not ready to have them. But someday...!

pinkfloydpuffer

Hehe, yeah. Like maybe in 10 years or something, maybe 20, who knows? My mom told me not to get one, cause I'd wake up with it on my face.

Devon

They're definitely on my list of animals I would love to keep but probably never will have the opportunity. Unless, of course, I win the lottery.

Chief_waterchanger

I may someday get into saltwater fish just to learn enough to keep octopi. They are insanely intelligent. I hate stupid things, but conversely I love smart stuff.

MousePotato

Mom may be right! <laugh>

It may be ten or twenty years - who knows? Personally, I don't like to take on any new animals unless I am absolutely sure I know how to care for them. I have enough stress in my life without little surprises. I'd definitely file a cephalopod sneaking out to raid my tanks in the middle of the night as one of these "surprises."

Hang in there, learn everything you can, and someday you may indeed have one. That way, you can spend your time enjoying it rather than screaming for help on fishlore while it terrorizes your room.

Butterfly

My oldest daughter has has kept Octopi and yes they are extremely intelligent. She had read somewhere that if they became bored they would die so she gave hers Legos to play with. She (the Octopus) would try to take them to her cave and since they float they would wind up floating back to the surface. she stayed busy all the time trying to capture and keep the Legos. My granddaughter reached into the tank once to pick up one of the Legos and the Octopus wrapped her tentacle around her wrist, gently but enough to scare her. Unfortunately she laid eggs and since they won't eat while waiting for eggs to hatch she died. It was a very unique experience.
Carol

pinkfloydpuffer

Hehe, I'll just get my fill from watching youtube videos or something for now. I can handle waiting. If I ever do get one. My real project is eels, I'd like to get one in a year or more.
And thanks for sharing that experience Carol, it's always great to hear about unique animals!

MousePotato

That's a neat story, Carol! Now *I* want one! <laugh>

sirdarksol

That's interesting. I wonder if female octopi can be tricked by taking the eggs out of her cave? It would be tough to do, I'm sure, since they're such smart critters, but maybe the lack of the presence of her eggs would cause her to come out of her cave.

Chief_waterchanger

That would be an interesting study, SDS, but it may either result in injury or the Octopus, being as smart as they are, being depressed or something.

(Maybe make a hinged opening on the back of her "cave" and try to steal carefully... I dunno.)

sirdarksol

That's about the only thing I can think of, and I don't even think that would work. It's one of those things that maybe would work if only you could pull off the physical act.
Depression, is, of course, another possibility (and one that I hadn't thought of.)

Butterfly

She tells me that males die after breeding and it's not unusual for females to die after the eggs hatch anyway( I misunderstood and thought she died because she wouldn't eat). Even in the wild they have a very short life span. She really enjoyed her Octopus while she had her.
Carol

sirdarksol

I did actually read that females are known to starve to death while guarding their eggs.

Butterfly

LOL maybe I didn't misunderstand after all. I was under the impression this was unusual and she said no it was not unusual but the norm.
Carol