Hi there, im new to the husbandry as of today, April 18. Although ive been reading acticles for almost a month now, my local pet store finally had an octo. the only thing that is wrong is that they and I did not know what kind it was. I know it is very difficult to tell, but i'm gonna give it a try any ways.

It has a mantle langth of about an inch with an overall lebgth of about 8 inches. Although ive only had it for about 4 hours, It's most common color seems to be a cream or it is clear, which is normal, but it has alot of lite, but shiney green specles all over it. As soon as i put it in the tank is started to cruise around looking in holes for food and didnt even care about hiding like most new octo's. It seems to not be bothered by light at all. I even stuck my hand in the tank and dropped a baby crab infront of it which it ate immediately. I'm gonna take a stab and say it's a vulgaris, but who knows.

I'm kinda shopcked by how cool it's acting so if anyone can share some info that would be great. I will have pics shortly after it comes out from feeding later.

Talk to the person who placed/received the original shipment to find out where the Octopus came from. (Ex. Caribbean, off the coast of California, Tank Raised, etc.) If it doesn't show on their invoice have them call the supplier and see where they get their Octopus from.

I think they said it might have come from florida, that is where his supplier is located also he said. Not 100% possitive. Picture is coming soon though... He seems to be more Brownish red now as he is climbing throughout the tank.

Thanx

Let's wait for the pics to get a better idea of what octopus you have.

Nancy

OK, this is the only photo i could get of it, as i swam out and snatched the damsel that i couldn't catch. It definately has light blue-green spots all over it's body almost all the time, and it looks like they are raised to form texture alot also. Any info would be most helpful thanks.

How large are these blue/green spots? Can you get a photo when he has his spots?

I'm afraid you may have a blue ring. (Toxic!) Please don't handle him until you know for sure. Better safe than sorry.

their real small, and i seriously doubt it's a blue ring because i've been observing it change color all day, and it's been freaked out a couple times, and i have yet to see and blue ring anywhere, and it also doesnt have the body shape of a usual blue ring, but i can't say it isnt a blue ring though either. Thanx

My first judgement was to say Octopus cyanea, or Octopus briareus and when you keep referring to green-blue spots, thats what they both make me think of.



Octopus cyanea (http://www.cephbase.utmb.edu/spdb/speciesc.cfm?CephID=519)

Octopus briareus (http://www.cephbase.utmb.edu/spdb/speciesc.cfm?CephID=510)

In the first shot isn't that an eyespot to the right? Makes me think you have a bimac!!!

And welcome!!

Carol

I'm still doing my best but i got two that i might think it is, either Octopus Joubini or briareus. still taking guesses on what it might be???? I hope your right, i'd like to have a Bimac... :D

i'd be keen to say briareus too, certainly not a blue ring anyway

I don't think its Cyanea, i think briareus is a possibility but i see very little webbing...

Those pics sure look like Jetta :( I would say a Briareus as well and as far as webbing she did not have webbing until i put the lobster in the tank :wink:

Here are some new pictures of the Octopus, I still going to go with Briareus.

I have another question. How long does it take to get copper out of a 75 gallon tank? I added it a week ago to sure a fish. I did a 50% water change today and i added activated carbon and a copper sponge that is supposed to absorb it all. I should say how long would you wait before adding an octopus?

Thanx,
Ryan Satow

I'm not sure you can ever safely add an octopus to a tank that has been treated with copper. It gets into the silicone, rock and everything and even a miniscule amount of copper is fatal.

Great pictures!! I like the orange around the eyes. What kind of camera? Are you using a flash? I found my octopuses tolerated the camera better when I didn't blind them!!!

Carol

there's no way im about to drain all that water first of all, and second of all theirs no way im gonna trust a silicon job by me. Thats all i need is 80 gallons of salt water all over my second story. You really dont think their is any other way? i have two crabs, and a shrimp that have been living in their even when the copper was added. Is their any in expensive test invertebrate i could test the tank with first to make sure???

Those blue spots sure look cool! (At first I was concerned that your "spots" may have been rings.) I can't remember what size you stated she was but I do know that out of the Caribbean there are at least 2 dwarf Octopus that are sometimes collected that many suppliers, scientists, etc. (even public aquarium suppliers and biologists) can not identify. You may have one of those.

As for copper there's no way to possibly rid your tank completely. Once copper is added something in the molecular make-up bonds with the glass walls (and everything else) of the aquarium. You can deplete the copper but never fully rid a tank of it. Granted, maybe Octopus can withstand some copper but I don't know how much. If you want a ceph, of any sort, to be best off I'd start with a new tank (or a tank that has never had copper added to it).

Is their any in expensive test invertebrate i could test the tank with first to make sure???

Well, its not very inexpensive, but its in your tank right now. ;)

Pretty sure it's not a bimac, the eyes are way too big. My guess is Briarius.

Spring

yes, im sure that is what it is