- Joined
- May 13, 2008
- Messages
- 10
This fall, I'm going to be heading off to college, where I'm going, it's mandatory for students to live in the dorms, so obviously, I can't have a huge aquarium. Browsing the forums, it appears as if octopi aren't really suitable for anything less than 30 or so gallons, and I'm certain my roommate would not appreciate a huge aquarium taking up dorm room. So, that probably puts an octopus out of the question for now. Plus having to move for a month in the winter, and also over the summer, my university is a three-hour drive from my parents' home, and I don't know if an octopus would be able to handle that kind of stress, but maybe it would.
But for smaller aquariums, are there any kind of cephalopod that can survive in those kinds of conditions? I've maintained aquariums before, but never with anything other than fish.
I know that caring for any kind of animal can take a great deal of work, and money too, especially for one of a saltwater variety, but I would like to some day get an octopus, and I think it would be a good idea to start out with something similar, but maybe easier to take care of? I know there are some small eel-like fish, starfish, etc. that live in similar conditions, but I don't know anything about them, and I would prefer an octopus.
I haven't met my room mate yet, however, and I may get someone that would be thrilled to have some 30 gallon aquarium, and share costs and whatnot with me. I would still like something on the small-ish side, though. I've heard Bimacs make for wonderful pets, and there's also the picture of the Octopus filosus on this site, which looks small, but I'm certain it's probably not full-grown.
I'm not too concerned about the price of the creature, as I won't be purchasing it, but size, living conditions and food costs are something that concern me. I've read that most octopi will eat crabs, and some will eat crayfish, which are in abundance here. I would like to have the information ready by the time I decide to discuss it with whoever I room with, to... you know, try and make a convincing argument, because I think and octopus would be an amazing pet, even if it doesn't have a long lifespan.
Any and all information on a suitable octopus (or temporary alternative) would be wonderful, as I'm quite eager to get an aquarium up and running again.
But for smaller aquariums, are there any kind of cephalopod that can survive in those kinds of conditions? I've maintained aquariums before, but never with anything other than fish.
I know that caring for any kind of animal can take a great deal of work, and money too, especially for one of a saltwater variety, but I would like to some day get an octopus, and I think it would be a good idea to start out with something similar, but maybe easier to take care of? I know there are some small eel-like fish, starfish, etc. that live in similar conditions, but I don't know anything about them, and I would prefer an octopus.
I haven't met my room mate yet, however, and I may get someone that would be thrilled to have some 30 gallon aquarium, and share costs and whatnot with me. I would still like something on the small-ish side, though. I've heard Bimacs make for wonderful pets, and there's also the picture of the Octopus filosus on this site, which looks small, but I'm certain it's probably not full-grown.
I'm not too concerned about the price of the creature, as I won't be purchasing it, but size, living conditions and food costs are something that concern me. I've read that most octopi will eat crabs, and some will eat crayfish, which are in abundance here. I would like to have the information ready by the time I decide to discuss it with whoever I room with, to... you know, try and make a convincing argument, because I think and octopus would be an amazing pet, even if it doesn't have a long lifespan.
Any and all information on a suitable octopus (or temporary alternative) would be wonderful, as I'm quite eager to get an aquarium up and running again.