Atlantic Pygmy Ocotpus

[NaturalGothic]

Hey guys,
I want to keep an Atlantic Pygmy octopus in a nano tank with two Damsel fish. Do you think the octopus will kill the damsels? One is a Talbot’s and the other is a blue devil.
Thanks
Alison

 

[hds4216]

Fish are a bad idea imo - either the octopus will try to eat them (and stress them out), or they'll pick at it and stress it out.

 

[NaturalGothic]

Fish are a bad idea imo - either the octopus will try to eat them (and stress them out), or they'll pick at it and stress it out.

Gotcha. That’s sort of what I was thinking but I wanted to ask anyway.

 

[BamboozleBean]

It’s up to you but I firmly believe octopuses don’t belong in home aquariums.

 

[hds4216]

It’s up to you but I firmly believe octopuses don’t belong in home aquariums.

I agree with this. They're too intelligent, and they're not suited to captivity. They don't live long anyway. Leave them in the ocean where they belong.

 

[NaturalGothic]

I agree with this. They're too intelligent, and they're not suited to captivity. They don't live long anyway. Leave them in the ocean where they belong.

The more I read about them, the more I agree with you.

 

[Captain K'nuckles]

A friend kept an octopus. Fascinating which is why I can see the attraction. So intelligent. Arm would come out of the tank when it wanted feeding. If he forgot it would escape and help itself. He only knew as the fish where going missing from a separate tank. The octopus had him well trained too. He wouldn't admit it though.

 

[Hadla]

I also think they should be left in the ocean, but they fascinate me and I’m ecstatic to be able to keep one every few years or so. Especially since a friend of mine got a dwarf from salty bottom a few months ago and it has laid fertile eggs! You can see the tiny babies in their eggs and we are hoping some will make it past the newborn stage.

anyway, I do my absolute best by making them happy with lots of space and rocks in the tank, interesting toys/objects to amuse their intelligent little minds along with tiny hermits and snails to promote hunting! Enough rock so I don’t have to use any kind of filter, just a wave maker and/or bubbles for water movement.

I don’t have the funds or self confidence to be able to get a marine biology degree and work at an aquarium (not to mention MBA is about two hours away anyway-I’m in Sacramento) so it’s great that I could learn about and interact with one at home!

 

[1guydude]

I think an octopus or cuttlefish would require too much hands on work and attention to be actually enjoyable.
D

 

[1guydude]

A tight fit lid and a hidden overflow are needed. Unless u wanna do wcs everyday.
D

 

[CMMorgan]

Octopus + fish = NOM NOM NOM

 

[Hadla]

I think an octopus or cuttlefish would require too much hands on work and attention to be actually enjoyable.
D

It depends on which one though, I’d never attempt keeping a cuttlefish or squid, a dwarf octo is easy imo

 

[1guydude]

Yes they are predators. Lol. They will eat the damsels.
D

 

[Hadla]

Yeah I keep a tight lid and more than enough live rock but I still worry about it escaping.

 

[jaganshi066]

Fish are a bad idea imo - either the octopus will try to eat them (and stress them out), or they'll pick at it and stress it out.

The octopus will definitely try to eat them

 

[Hadla]

Either that or it’ll stay hidden most of the time so the fish don’t bother it

 

[1guydude]

Stop! Ur makin me wanna try.
D

 

[Hadla]

You should if you can find one! They’re so fun to observe and interact with(if you can)

 

[CMMorgan]

Stop! Ur makin me wanna try.
D

They are cute little buggers though....

 

[Hadla]

From a fb post (tap or click on it to see the full thing)