- Joined
- Mar 17, 2003
- Messages
- 662
As I read through various threads, it bothers me that aquarists often assume that any tropical or semi-tropical octopus can live happily in a reef tank populated by corals. Many of the species of octopus available through suppliers are collected from habitats that have few if any corals and these animals typically do not associate with corals, sponges, etc. Good examples would be muck species such as wunderpus, the mimic and O. marginatus. These species live in and forage on sandy substrates. They would rarely, if ever, be found in association with corals.
A recent case in point is the discovery of the rare, iteroparous octopus, O. chierchiae in a commercial shipment. This species is found in the tropical eastern Pacific. While it might be assumed that this species could be kept in a reef tank, from my experience, it is typically found in tide pools and on open, rocky slopes living in cavities formed by boring organisms such as razor clams. The are found in association with algae and corolline algae, but rarely corals.
With our increasing ability to grow and propagate a diversity of corals, reef tanks are made up of a greater variety of species of coelenterates - many which can harm other organisms. If their nematocysts don't cause damage their calcarious skeletons may.
I would urge that when considering an octopus for your home tank, consideration be taken regarding what is the natural habitat that this species occupies and can it be supplied. Too often an animal is discovered in a LFS and is taken home to be plopped into the reef tank with no consideration of whether this species naturally occurs with coral and of whether the species of coral in the tank are potentially injurious.
Roy
A recent case in point is the discovery of the rare, iteroparous octopus, O. chierchiae in a commercial shipment. This species is found in the tropical eastern Pacific. While it might be assumed that this species could be kept in a reef tank, from my experience, it is typically found in tide pools and on open, rocky slopes living in cavities formed by boring organisms such as razor clams. The are found in association with algae and corolline algae, but rarely corals.
With our increasing ability to grow and propagate a diversity of corals, reef tanks are made up of a greater variety of species of coelenterates - many which can harm other organisms. If their nematocysts don't cause damage their calcarious skeletons may.
I would urge that when considering an octopus for your home tank, consideration be taken regarding what is the natural habitat that this species occupies and can it be supplied. Too often an animal is discovered in a LFS and is taken home to be plopped into the reef tank with no consideration of whether this species naturally occurs with coral and of whether the species of coral in the tank are potentially injurious.
Roy