Ok, I haven't bought my octopuses yet, but I'm trying to do some research to make sure everything will be copasetic once they arrive. I have found slightly conflicting numbers for water quality parameters, and I can't seem to lock down a good temperature other than "room temperature." I am hoping to keep O. bimaculoides.

Does anyone know what a good temp. range for keeping O. bimaculoides is?

Also, here are the numbers I found for water quality (the ones that seem the most true in my opinion). I have not yet kept octos, so can someone tell me if I'm in the right ballpark? I want them to live!

pH: 7.8-8.2
Salinity: 35-36 ppt
Ammonia: <.05 ppm
Nitrite: <.05 ppm
Nitrate: <50 ppm
Temp.: "room temp." ~ 25 C ?

ammonia needs to be 0 no buts.
nitrite should be 0
bimacs like colder temps so i suggest maby 72 degrees.
bimacs are pritty difficult to get. Hopefully If my project goes well getting a captive bred bimac will be alot easyer. No promises yet but expect them to be on market in about 4-5 months probably longer.

Notes on bimac temperature:

The National Oceanic Data Center has a website that lists the average monthly water temperature for a number of different places:

NODC Coastal Water Temperature Guide (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/wtg12.html)

For Oceanside, CA--prime natural bimac habitat--the winter low temperature is 57 degrees and the summer high is 69.

Obviously its difficult to keep temperatures that cool in a home aquarium, so most of us shoot for the lower 70s. Remember that increased temperature = increased metabolism = shorter lifespan!

Dan