squid
- Thread starter xKEIGOx
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octopii have been kept by some, but they are very short-lived. And as PeeJ says "an airtight tank" Cephlapods are very intelligent creatures and they will find a way out. Not to mention that nothing in your tank will be safe - esp. your inverts. As for squid - no idea other than that they are cephlapods also, and, quite possibly more clever than octopii. I'd be wary. but maybe that's just me.
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oooo~~ so beside making sure that it doesn't come out from the tank and the tank mate problem everything are the same with keeping other reefs organism. i'm actually planing to make a squid only or octopus only tank. but I'm scare that they doesn't do well in captivity.
Squid is a tough one. It mostly found in colder, deeper area, and needs lots of room to swim. Special filtration is required since if you bump on the tank, it will charge its ink, making the whole tank black... it is more sensitve than octis.
I would recommand it if you can get special tank for it and have an open system (filtered ocean water constantly move thru the tank, and drain out back to ocean.) They are very active predator, and a messy eater. It is best not have them in a recirculating system with coral.
I would recommand it if you can get special tank for it and have an open system (filtered ocean water constantly move thru the tank, and drain out back to ocean.) They are very active predator, and a messy eater. It is best not have them in a recirculating system with coral.
KEIGO, please read this article:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... invert.htm
Cuttles are much more difficult to keep than octos, although they can be kept in groups. They need a lot more swimming room, and are generally considered to be more fragile. Squid are pretty much considered impossible to keep by hobbyists. Some public aquariums can keep them alive, but rarely. (BTW, they're pretty dumb compared to octos)
Octopuses will pretty much consume any other mobile tankmates besides echinoderms and polychaetes.
If you're truly determined to keep one, Octopus bimaculatus is by far the hardiest octopus species. It will probably be difficult to get one in Malaysia, though, since they're native to the west coast of N. America. Check out this page as well:
http://is.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... invert.htm
Cuttles are much more difficult to keep than octos, although they can be kept in groups. They need a lot more swimming room, and are generally considered to be more fragile. Squid are pretty much considered impossible to keep by hobbyists. Some public aquariums can keep them alive, but rarely. (BTW, they're pretty dumb compared to octos)
Octopuses will pretty much consume any other mobile tankmates besides echinoderms and polychaetes.
If you're truly determined to keep one, Octopus bimaculatus is by far the hardiest octopus species. It will probably be difficult to get one in Malaysia, though, since they're native to the west coast of N. America. Check out this page as well:
http://is.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/
A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Bruce Carlson, (of the Georgia Aquarium, and formerly of the Waikiki Aquarium), speak, and he did a video presentation which included some information on some cuttlefish that he studied - and I can't for the life of me remember what they were specifically but he stated that while they are short-lived (~2 years - longer than many keep longer-lived specimens anyway...) and he said they were ideal for the home hobbyist.
If I can remember the name or find an article I'll post it. But I was very surprised at this, because it's rare to see cuttles in the trade, but I have seen them on a stocklist.
I've seen some stores keep octopusses (the correct plural...) but IMO they are more of a "testosterone fish" for young men with something to prove. They can also ink the tank if they are annoyed or frightened, and that can wreak havoc.
I did have the good fortune to observe a femaled blue-ringed octopus brood her eggs, I watched them hatch, and of course the female was dead the next day - but what an awesome sight! The babies did not survive, but it was a really interesting thing to watch all these tiny babies emerge from their egg capsules.
The cuttles that Bruce referred to, do reproduce in captivity - he had some amazing photos of these, and he also showed some of his research on the Chambered Nautilus - my favourite Cephlopod
Jenn
If I can remember the name or find an article I'll post it. But I was very surprised at this, because it's rare to see cuttles in the trade, but I have seen them on a stocklist.
I've seen some stores keep octopusses (the correct plural...) but IMO they are more of a "testosterone fish" for young men with something to prove. They can also ink the tank if they are annoyed or frightened, and that can wreak havoc.
I did have the good fortune to observe a femaled blue-ringed octopus brood her eggs, I watched them hatch, and of course the female was dead the next day - but what an awesome sight! The babies did not survive, but it was a really interesting thing to watch all these tiny babies emerge from their egg capsules.
The cuttles that Bruce referred to, do reproduce in captivity - he had some amazing photos of these, and he also showed some of his research on the Chambered Nautilus - my favourite Cephlopod
Jenn
Reef Inverts advises to look for cultured specimens from universities or public aquaria. Probably don't see many of them on lists cause not many people will buy them or setup the tanks they really need. I'd say a 125 or 180 would be a huge tank just for a squid or cuttlefish. Add on a downdraft skimmer & a big wet/dry along w/ a chiller. Can the wet dry & get LR & good halides & you can have a much more interesting reef tank full of bio diversity.
I think he's saying with all the equipment and expense, IF you simply added MH lighting you could have many different interesting animals (corals, fish, whatever), not just a single octopus. That's why they aren't sold often, usually folks aren't interested in just having an octo.
They can be kept in tanks as small as 30 gallons. I don't really think a chiller is necessary since low lighting is used. You could keep the hardiest species with a canister filter and a HOB skimmer with a carbon bag somewhere. O. bimaculatus is actually relatively tolerant of nitrogenous compounds in the water (it lives in tide pools in the wild), but is absolutely intolerant of any heavy metals or low oxygen levels.
They can be kept in tanks as small as 30 gallons. I don't really think a chiller is necessary since low lighting is used. You could keep the hardiest species with a canister filter and a HOB skimmer with a carbon bag somewhere. O. bimaculatus is actually relatively tolerant of nitrogenous compounds in the water (it lives in tide pools in the wild), but is absolutely intolerant of any heavy metals or low oxygen levels.
Hei~ thanks for the reply! I have did some surfing on the net my self and I've found that they don't really live for a long time. Like around a year for most species. And they grow real fast. Most of the species came from the tropical sea so i guest they doesn't need any water chilling. I actually prefer octo cause of the fact that's it have 3 heart, blue blood, shape and color changing, etc. After few years of keeping marine fish only and coral reefs tank, i kinda want for something special. hehehe
The octo also require less space then the cuttlefish or the squid. But the draw back is that the fact they don't comeout much and they are too clever. I have to find something that could prevent them from coming out of the tank. :wink:
heheheThe octo also require less space then the cuttlefish or the squid. But the draw back is that the fact they don't comeout much and they are too clever. I have to find something that could prevent them from coming out of the tank. :wink:
Huh? Whats that have to do with tropical livestock that we import for our tanks? Its an shipping problem, not a demand problem. If we put 1 our on stock list, we get 20 requests.. They're hard shippers, with their higher O2 need and inking ability that instantly fouls shipping water into an ammonia soup. We've imported cuttles in the past with very few actually making it alive (major reason why we don't sell cuttles). They need to be inked several times prior to shipping and they require a much larger bag the a typical marine animal. Not worth the loss of animal life to aquire a single speciman.
Hey GreshamH have you heard who maricultures cuttles? I read in Reef Inverts(Fenner & Calfo) that some public aquariums & unversities captive rear them. None are mentioined by name. Maybe one in CA. Do they have to take one large box by them selves?
Gresham,
Exactly my point. If you want to keep a cephalopod alive, you're best off collecting it yourself very near where you live. They are VERY bad shippers, like you said.
My point was that cuttlefish are going to have a very high mortality when shipped all the way from Australia or Europe, therefore we don't see many cuttles out here. Cuttlefish live in the English channel, and English aquarists keep them pretty regularly.
Exactly my point. If you want to keep a cephalopod alive, you're best off collecting it yourself very near where you live. They are VERY bad shippers, like you said.
My point was that cuttlefish are going to have a very high mortality when shipped all the way from Australia or Europe, therefore we don't see many cuttles out here. Cuttlefish live in the English channel, and English aquarists keep them pretty regularly.
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