How to catch an octopus?

ImperialWookie · May 10, 2023

Hey everyone. I got my first load of live rock from TBS a little over a week ago. Last night, I found this guy. I will be adding fish to the tank (transferring over from my current tank) so I need to figure out how to catch him. I look in this tank for hours a day and last night at 1 am is the first time I’ve ever seen him. Any advice on how to catch him?

Rmckoy · May 10, 2023

Is that a reflection or do you have more than 1

ImperialWookie · May 10, 2023

Rmckoy said:
Is that a reflection or do you have more than 1

Just 1 (that I know of). This was at 1 am with all lights out and me flashing an LED flashlight in there, so it’s a reflection haha

Reefer1978 · May 10, 2023

Plastic bottle with food?

Hats_ · May 10, 2023

Reefer1978 said:
Plastic bottle with food?

Lol you underestimate the intelligence of these animals. They can open jars and screw off bottlecaps from the inside

Cell · May 10, 2023

What a cool hitchhiker.

Maybe @LiverockRocks has some tips on how to catch it.

Cell · May 10, 2023

Didn't realize you already have the other thread going with Liverockrocks already responding.

LiverockRocks · May 10, 2023

These cute juvenile dwarf octopus are a popular hitchhiker this time of year. Adults relish live crabs and shrimp.
You should be able to easily net it at night as it is hunting about, as they are nocturnal.

o2manyfish · May 10, 2023

I grew up on the water. We didn't catch them that small. But we used to used Beer Bottles with a string tied around the neck. Mickey's Big Mouth Bottles worked the best. Octopus loved the safety of a beer bottle cave.

Once they go in and curl up, just yank the bottle up byt the string.

Caught dozens this way.

If you need to bait the trap put some hermit crabs inside the bottom of the beer bottle.

Dave B

Sump Crab · May 10, 2023

That’s pretty awesome. Do you know if it actually is dangerous to fish?

nuxx · May 10, 2023

That's pretty sweet...

Species tank!

exnisstech · May 10, 2023

Cool hitchhiker. You couldn't net it last night while you were taking photos

reeftivo · May 10, 2023

Jrain904 said:
That’s pretty awesome. Do you know if it actually is dangerous to fish?

yep bad news small fish, clams, crabs, snails and even each other

a dedicated octo tank is best . as mentioned they can get out of anything too.

super smart critters! i think they are Alien!!!!!!!! LOL

TinyReefObsession · May 10, 2023

Hats_ said:
Lol you underestimate the intelligence of these animals. They can open jars and screw off bottlecaps from the inside

Yesss!!! I was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the docent was telling me about how fish kept mysteriously disappearing overnight, from one of the tanks in their classroom years back… i don’t remember how they figured it out, but apparently the octopus was sticking a tentacle out, unlatching it’s own tank, crawling out of the tank, down the table leg, across the floor, up the table leg, then opening and snacking on the fish in the tank! O.O It would then latch the fish tank, crawl down the table leg, across the floor, back up the table leg, into it’s own tank, latching it behind itself! LOL the water trail would be dry by the time the staff/ class showed up- so it took them ages to sort it out! Hahaha i love these guys!

i cant think · May 10, 2023

if you have a very well sealed container, you’ll need it. A net won’t keep these guys contained for long, just long enough to do a swoop.

reeftivo · May 10, 2023

TinyReefObsession said:
Yesss!!! I was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the docent was telling me about how fish kept mysteriously disappearing overnight, from one of the tanks in their classroom years back… i don’t remember how they figured it out, but apparently the octopus was sticking a tentacle out, unlatching it’s own tank, crawling out of the tank, down the table leg, across the floor, up the table leg, then opening and snacking on the fish in the tank! O.O It would then latch the fish tank, crawl down the table leg, across the floor, back up the table leg, into it’s own tank, latching it behind itself! LOL the water trail would be dry by the time the staff/ class showed up- so it took them ages to sort it out! Hahaha i love these guys!

i'm telling you these guys are alien to this planet

They have 3 hearts for crying out loud!

Scary smart creatures

ImperialWookie · May 10, 2023

exnisstech said:
Cool hitchhiker. You couldn't net it last night while you were taking photos

I’ll be honest, I was half asleep (my dogs woke me up to go outside) when I saw him. I grabbed my work phone from the counter and took a few pictures and went back to bed. I wasn’t sure if they are good or bad for tanks so I didn’t want to catch him without more knowledge!

Reefer1978 · May 10, 2023

Hats_ said:
Lol you underestimate the intelligence of these animals. They can open jars and screw off bottlecaps from the inside

I do not, and I didn't mean leave the bottle there for ever.

Anemone_Fanatic · May 10, 2023

Oh well, I guess you have an octopus tank now. If I found a hitchhiker like that, I think that I'd keep it and set up a tank around it.

If you do want to get rid of it, you might have a rough time. They're about as smart as a human toddler, but with eight arms, good camouflage, and the ability to go hide in a tiny crevice in the rock. I'd try netting it out, I'm not sure if any traps that a person can figure out would work.