Does your LFS carry Blue Ringed Octopus?

[Reefing102]

Stopped by one of my LFS today and they had in a small blue ringed octopus (about 2 inches) and not bad at only $69. That said, I did not buy it but first time I’d ever seen one in person or even for sale, making me wonder if any of your LFS get one in?

*They did have warnings on the glass stating it was deadly and that a waiver must be signed when purchased.

Here’s the little guy:

 

[Ben549]

that's awesome, just to see one......assuming they take proper care of it (including it's intelligence)

 

[littlefoxx]

Stopped by one of my LFS today and they had in a small blue ringed octopus (about 2 inches) and not bad at only $69. That said, I did not buy it but first time I’d ever seen one in person or even for sale, making me wonder if any of your LFS get one in?

*They did have warnings on the glass stating it was deadly and that a waiver must be signed when purchased.

Here’s the little guy:

Wow!! Thats so cool! Ive never seen a LFS near me have one. Beautiful! The waiver you have to sign… lol beautiful but deadly

 

[Seancj]

One of my LFS got 3 of them in about a month ago. They were sent to them by mistake with a large fish/invert order. They didn't put them up for sale for various reasons. The put each of them in their own 2 gallon clear plastic quarantine basket type containers on display. Unfortunately, they only lived about 3 weeks. They ate the first week but wouldn't after that.

 

[Reefing102]

This guy was ordered on purpose by the store owner as a just because item. They have it in a plastic critter keeper with a micro mesh between the lid and top of the keeper that’s placed in a 75 gallon tank. They’ve had it about a week.

My wife wanted to take it home and I said absolutely….not. But now we are in discussions of setting up another tank (not complaining) to get a non-venomous octopus

 

[Hidden426]

That's pretty cool. I have never seen one in person. A have heard a couple of our LFSs getting them in stock but have never seen it.

 

[Jasonak]

That seems crazy they can even have it, There is no anti venom for there bite.

 

[archercorals]

Any octopus is very challenging to care for. These guys are venomous z, so it adds that

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Why? I get the WOW in it but some things should just be left alone. There’s a reason for its markings. Lol.

 

[PeterEde]

As an Australian who grew up in the sea we are taught from a young age not to pick up cans or bottles inthe water.
Personally I've never seen one at the beach but have heard of people finding them and stupidly holding them.
The bite is supposed to be relatively painless but if you don't have anyone with you you will likely die. They produce a neurotoxin that stops your heart. You suffocate and if no one is there to do CPR it's good night.

 

[Reefing102]

Yea, the guy stated that if it but you, you likely wouldn’t even feel it. It was kind of fascinating lol

But I had the same reaction of why and then followed it up with, is that even legal?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I have questions about the legality as well and tbh I'm not sure a waiver would even save them from being sued...I mean whoever bought it would have a pretty good case just by saying nobody should be sold one and it was negligence on the shop's side to sell it... possibly manslaughter if it killed someone. I mean think about it, who would be qualified to own one? It seems similar to selling cyanide to someone who seems to be very depressed but having them sign a waiver that they won't commit suicide and only use it as rat poison.

 

[Slocke]

Not a blue ringed but something equally stupid:

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

They sell those here fairly often

Not a blue ringed but something equally stupid:

 

[Slocke]

I have questions about the legality as well and tbh I'm not sure a waiver would even save them from being sued...I mean whoever bought it would have a pretty good case just by saying nobody should be sold one and it was negligence on the shop's side to sell it... possibly manslaughter if it killed someone. I mean think about it, who would be qualified to own one? It seems similar to selling cyanide to someone who seems to be very depressed but having them sign a waiver that they won't commit suicide and only use it as rat poison.

In the US at least it is usually only venemous snakes that are permitted/illegal. The stores do still carry some risk as I assume they would be sued if an employee or customer was injured or killed. It really is not a smart purchase for the store and if I owned one I would either not order deadly animals or demand a customer sign a liability waiver and pick it up immediately.

What scares me more are the things most people don’t know about. I could see a store selling pretty snails and having no idea they are cone snails for example.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

In the US at least it is usually only venemous snakes that are permitted/illegal. The stores do still carry some risk as I assume they would be sued if an employee or customer was injured or killed. It really is not a smart purchase for the store and if I owned one I would either not order deadly animals or demand a customer sign a liability waiver and pick it up immediately.

What scares me more are the things most people don’t know about. I could see a store selling pretty snails and having no idea they are cone snails for example.

That's precisely the problem! If it killed someone the first question in court would be "Why did you choose to sell this man something so dangerous and deadly that he has no experience with?". "why would you assume he would exercise any caution"? I don't think there are many people experienced in handling them or knowledgeable enough for the shop to appear justified by selling such a dangerous animal to someone unless they had extensive experience...I doubt many people on the world have that experience...

 

[Rocktron1]

Beautiful scary creatures. Not sure on legalities of having one. Over here in Perth I've pulled my Cray pots and had them fall out onto the floor of boat , some as small as your thumb nail. They're the ones I'm scared of , especially since I don't wear shoes on the boat

 

[AydenLincoln]

My wife wanted to take it home and I said absolutely….not. But now we are in discussions of setting up another tank (not complaining) to get a non-venomous octopus

The good and smart choice!

 

[AydenLincoln]

I have questions about the legality as well and tbh I'm not sure a waiver would even save them from being sued...I mean whoever bought it would have a pretty good case just by saying nobody should be sold one and it was negligence on the shop's side to sell it... possibly manslaughter if it killed someone. I mean think about it, who would be qualified to own one? It seems similar to selling cyanide to someone who seems to be very depressed but having them sign a waiver that they won't commit suicide and only use it as rat poison.

If they live in a state that upholds waivers then there’s essentially no case or lawsuit. Laws vary but a waiver would most likely hold up because the person buying it is made aware and knows it could kill them and it would not be unreasonable or extreme if this happens. Now should they be selling them is the question? No they shouldn’t.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

It depends on the state actually as the laws vary but a waiver would most likely hold up because the person buying it is made aware and knows it could kill them and it would not be unreasonable or extreme if this happens. Now should they be selling them is the question? No they shouldn’t.

They would have to "lawyer up" to say the least because like you said everyone knows they shouldn't be selling it to anyone. They would very likely be found guilty of negligence at the very least. This isn't any different than going outside and catching a live rattlesnake and selling it to someone after signing a waiver. There's a moderate chance that person may die and even if not it is not smart to sell to a regular person regardless because of the risk and the person selling it should clearly realize that.