Thinking of getting a octopus

[clownfishmama]

I’m new to saltwater and I have a well running 15 gal with two clownfish so I’m thinking I can handle an octopus? What breeds should I look into and what tank set up should I get the cute creature?

 

[reefermadnes5]

I follow an octopus named bruce on insta. The interaction between bruce and the person is awesome. Coralsanonymous.com has an awesome selection of aquarium octos and their shipping of livestock has been quality for me.

 

[reefermadnes5]

Im following you now so i can see how you build it out.

 

[twentyleagues]

What has stopped me in the past and presence is their ability to get through any space thats even a little bigger then their beak. Thats pretty small on most aquarium "appropriate" octopi. The other fact is I tend to get attached and since most dont live much more then a year thats sad.

 

[clownfishmama]

Im following you now so i can see how you build it out.

I’m not entirely sure though, so don’t be surprised if I end up getting tangs instead.

 

[clownfishmama]

What has stopped me in the past and presence is their ability to get through any space thats even a little bigger then their beak. Thats pretty small on most aquarium "appropriate" octopi. The other fact is I tend to get attached and since most dont live much more then a year thats sad.

They’re almost equivalent to intelligent hamsters. And I want a long lasting pet!

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

The "Atlantic Pygmy Brown" species are generally the most popular because they're small, tropical, and not lethally venomous; a lot of people like Bimacs (both species) as well, but they're temperate/coldwater:

Generally, the recommended tank size for one dwarf octopus (the small species that get about the size of a hand) is 30 gallons (or more - larger is better for these guys, with most people who have kept them before recommending more in the range of 50-75 gallons for one)

Also, two things to keep in mind with octopuses:
1 ) They typically are very short lived (most dwarf octopuses live for about 6-10 months, with 6-8 being more typical from what I've seen), and if you get an adult, you may only have it for a few weeks before it dies.
2 ) Be wary of which octopus you buy - the dwarf species (such as Octopus mercatoris, O. joubini, etc.) are fine, but others like the Blue-Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena spp.) are lethally venomous (i.e. they could literally kill you).

If you have serious questions about keeping octopuses, the site linked below is a great resource, and there are a handful of people either on that site or on here (or both, in some cases) who would likely be able to help answer those questions for you:
https://tonmo.com/articles/octopus-pet-checklist-before-you-get-an-octopus-as-a-pet.3/

Starting an Octopus Home Aquarium | Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine

With their smarts and unique appearance, octopuses are marine aquarium favorites. Here are some facts you need to know before bringing home an eight-legged friend.

www.tfhmagazine.com

 

[reefermadnes5]

My marine journey started with a puffer. They are super smart and fun l.

 

[twentyleagues]

They’re almost equivalent to intelligent hamsters. And I want a long lasting pet!

1st that should have said present....lol. Yes they are very intelligent. Hamsters no, Hamsters are evil lol. Hamsters are more like Clownfish.