My new Wonderpus

MikeB · Nov 24, 2009

Wow, awesome pictures. Maybe get a video of him working for his food?

Viva'sReef · Nov 24, 2009

Wow that is one cool Octo..Nice pick up

fenderguy1 · Nov 27, 2009

That is Sweet! You gotta get us a vid of him/her

rendos · Nov 27, 2009

I do not have a video camera, but he/she is doing fine. Eating like a champ...investigating everything...making like an umbrella when I put in peppermint shrimp for him to eat. Very cool stuff.

Caesar777 · Jan 30, 2010

How long did it last before it died in your tank? ...:skeptical:

rendos · Jan 31, 2010

Still going. Why skeptical? So far, this has been the easiest thing to care for. It eats everyday, and is quite active.

Caesar777 · Jan 31, 2010

Good to know. Kudos! Their track record, last I've seen, has been extremely poor, even in research labs, hence the skepticism. May I ask what you're feeding it, size of the animal, and if possible, original source? (Not the pet store but where they got it.) And any other pertinent info not mentioned. Water-change regimen, filtration, etc.? Thanks for all the info posted, much appreciated. It would be fantastic to know that this species is a possible animal to keep like any other cephalopod, as in without losing it after a couple months.

rendos · Jan 31, 2010

Well, I am feeding silversides, scallops, and krill. I got it from my pet shop. I ordered this octo from Quality Marine. I keep nitrates below 20 ppm, and water changes are according to nitrates on this tank.

acanman · Jan 31, 2010

what size tank is he in? got anything else in there? jw cause i am thinking bout getting one.. and got anymore pics of him

Caesar777 · Feb 2, 2010

Don't put octos with anyone else, acanman.

OP, what'd you pay?! Last I checked, at standard markup, they were running ~$ 375 (again, standard retail markup) from QM.

And you're making me want one. HAH! I gotta call the shop tomorrow...

Edit: Also interested in tank size, filtration, etc.

rendos · Feb 2, 2010

He is alone in a 30 gallon tank. Filtration is a AquaClear 70 HOB filter. There is about 25-30 pounds of live rock.
Since it is my pet shop - I paid QM's wholesale.

acanman · Feb 2, 2010

rendos said:
He is alone in a 30 gallon tank. Filtration is a AquaClear 70 HOB filter. There is about 25-30 pounds of live rock.
Since it is my pet shop - I paid QM's wholesale.

your in tn??? can you order me one?? i will set up a tank just for it... can you get the blue ringed octos?

Caesar777 · Feb 4, 2010

OMG, no skimmer for something as messy as an octopus?

Acanman, I really don't recommend this as a first octo, and don't recommend to anyone a blue-ring. Try an O. bimaculatus or O. briareus, if you can find the latter. I had one, and she rocked.

rendos · Feb 4, 2010

Nope. If you keep the nitrates low, why do you need a skimmer? Skimmers on small tanks are pointless in my opinion.

650-IS350 · Feb 4, 2010

is that also called the mimic octo right?

rendos · Feb 4, 2010

No, from what I understand they are similar, but two different species.

650-IS350 · Feb 4, 2010

neverthe less awesome looking creature

Caesar777 · Feb 6, 2010

A tank is a tank. It's even more necessary on a small tank! But to each their own, of course. Just PLEASE don't spread to new reefers or those having trouble that "small tanks don't need skimmers".

Now, note that I'm not arguing that YOUR tank is excellent, and has no need for a skimmer. Def. check phosphates, though. Toxic to all animals, but especially inverts, and especially cephalopods.

And again, congrats on keeping it alive, healthy, and seemingly happy.

Makes me want to get one.. Been wanting another octo for awhile; I always saw that on QM's list every week and would "ugh!" because at least up until your account here, I'd never seen any successful keeping. Had I known, I'd have one of them already!