franzeskahirst Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 hi, my son is obsessed with octopi and he was wondering whether anyone has tried to keep octopi before in NZ, either pygmys or the larger variety and if they were successful? fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 Yes, and no. They are little escape artists! :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinefish4life Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 My dad had 1 before i was born and it got its tentacles chopped off by a crab lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 yes they can be kept but you need to start with a very small one the bigger they are the more they don't like being caged in a small environment like a tank and i believe they become suicidal whereas small ones are used to hiding to avoid predators good water conditions are essential and a chiller during summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzeskahirst Posted January 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 thanks for that everyone. anyone know where we could find or buy a small or pygmy one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 Ours was given to us by a fisherman who found it caught in his net. It was only about 15cm from tentacle tip to opposite tentacle tip. When in the tank you couldn't see it as it hid in the sand and changed colour to match. Unless it blinked, you had no idea where it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 they can fit through a hole the size of their "beak". Bear this in mind, as any, and I mean ANY hole that is bigger will result in you walking in to find an octopus ready to extract revenge for its incarceration... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 Or dry and fluffy after a losing battle with the carpet &c:ry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 And they're strong too....Kelly Tarltons have/had one in a tank and they had to put sand bags on the tank lids to keep them down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzeskahirst Posted January 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 thanks for that, they sound rather tricky . i think we'll start off with some rockpool fish and anemones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 not tricky, but you just have to know what your dealing with. probably not an ideal beginner organism... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinefish4life Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 i saw a doctumentry about them if they get out once, and you catch them they can easily get out again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 Well if you haven't fixed the fault, of course they can. They are quite intelligent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinefish4life Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 i think they are 1 of the most intelligent animals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 i would start off keeping a local marine tank for a few years then buy a large tank as they get large quickly, also be prepared fpr the maintenance they are really messy eaters and super sensitive to poor water conditions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 and dont get the pretty blue ones like this... :digH: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabid Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 how about squid or cuttlefish? surely they wouldnt be as crafty and are sort of close enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinefish4life Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 they are more palargic and swim rather than sit on the bottom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 they are more palargic and swim rather than sit on the bottom pelagic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinefish4life Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Oops :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 being pelagic cuttlefish need really clean water with a high oxygen content Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzeskahirst Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Great idea! where would we be able to find a live cuttlefish or squid? we do have a boat and go fishing but we've never come across a squid or cuttlefish. fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Cuttle fish, try Australia. Squid are caught in a net at night in very deep water with a very bright light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 they come into the shallows at night and can be caught in harbours. still with a bright light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativelover Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 you could try a freshwater ghostknife have the wow factor but are alot easier to look after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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