Best Temperature For "Common Octopus"

[MoonGrass]

I'm getting a new octopus tomorrow and can't decide what temperature to have the tank set at. Without a heater the tank is sitting right at 60F/15C. Local fish store is getting this animal by accident and doesn't really know where it's from. They are shipping it from Florida to Ohio but they could have imported it to Florida. So my basic question, what's the warmest a Vulgaris could tolerate and what's the coldest an Aculeatus would be happy with? Any thoughts on temperature would help, I'm sure this has been discussed but couldn't find much of a straight answer.

 

[tonmo]

@Tomh has general guidance of 70F maximum (which typically means you need a chiller to support), but I believe that is meant for bimacs and similar species, which is what he's currently supplying. I understand vulgaris can do well in the 70's, but a problem here is that vulgaris (i.e., the common octopus!) is found all over the world... so this may be tricky. Hoping our resident experts will weigh in.

 

[MoonGrass]

@Tomh has general guidance of 70F maximum (which typically means you need a chiller to support), but I believe that is meant for bimacs and similar species, which is what he's currently supplying. I understand vulgaris can do well in the 70's, but a problem here is that vulgaris (i.e., the common octopus!) is found all over the world... so this may be tricky. Hoping our resident experts will weigh in.

Thanks. I'm not sure if I'll be able to tell right away the species but I don't want it staying in the bag while I try to figure it out. I just really don't trust their definition of "common" octopus.

 

[MoonGrass]

First image. It survived shipping just fine.

 

[tonmo]

Great! How is this project coming along? Looks good so far!

 

[MoonGrass]

Great! How is this project coming along? Looks good so far!

Thanks! Not much to update yet. He's pretty well staying in his cave all day. Tank is at 70F. Live shrimp, hermits and snails seem untouched. Added fiddler crab tonight. Has plenty of options to eat.

 

[Tomh]

Doesn’t look like a Bimac? 70 degrees could be too cold! Most of the octopus we get in the states are from Indonesia, Caribbean and a few from Atlantic. The odds are Indonesian or Carribean . So water temps would warmer. I would raise it slowly and see how he does ? Maybe 1-2 degrees a day till 75-78. Thanks

 

[MoonGrass]

Doesn’t look like a Bimac? 70 degrees could be too cold! Most of the octopus we get in the states are from Indonesia, Caribbean and a few from Atlantic. The odds are Indonesian or Carribean . So water temps would warmer. I would raise it slowly and see how he does ? Maybe 1-2 degrees a day till 75-78. Thanks

Thanks. What species do you think it could be? Can't really get better pics until he comes out.

 

[Tomh]

Like you said ! Need better pics. Without ocean it came from it’s difficult. Thanks

 

[MoonGrass]

Just adding another pic. Nothing much to update. Only coming out when the lights are off.

 

[Tomh]

Water looks cloudy and he looks white. Check your water parameters

 

[MoonGrass]

Water looks cloudy and he looks white. Check your water parameters

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 4
PH 8.0
Temperature 76F
Salinity 1.026

Seems it's darker (almost reddish) during the day and all white at night with light off.

 

[Tomh]

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 4
PH 8.0
Temperature 76F
Salinity 1.026

Seems it's darker (almost reddish) during the day and all white at night with light off.

Ok, as long it’s eating should be fine. Thanks