- Joined
- Nov 20, 2002
- Messages
- 3,749
There has been some concern with the recent death of so many babies within hours of introducing into their new home. Sometimes, there are no answers. I remember some 20 years ago when I was brand new to octo keeping, I had a rash of sudden deaths, probably 3 to 4 in a row. I learned my mistake was in rushing the acclimation procedure. I would be so excited about introducing my new octo into his tank, that I would drip faster. The result was shock, over a too quick introduction and death within 24 hours.
My first success, was my 5th octo, I believe it was a Bimac. I slowly dripped him for over an hour. Since that time there has been one little octo that died within a week out of probably around 8.
My procedure for acclimation is upon arrival, I pour out maybe 1/2 of the water in the bag into the sink and then place the bag, with the octo still in it in a bucket. I use a piece of plastic airline tubing with a knot tied in the middle to regulate the drip rate. Start a suction, and drip into the bag for over an hour, until the water is tripled or more in the bag. Next I pour some of the water from the bag back into the bucket and introduce the bag into the tank with the octo still in it. I like to let them come out on their own. It's fun to see the different styles the different octos have in coming out of their bag. Some come out immediately and others, very slowing, feeling around outside of the bag which sometimes can take several hours to emerge. I find going very slowly, gives less change of inking and shocking them.
Ink, was a shocky octo upon arrival. Not sure what they did to her, but you could tell she was stressed on delivery. With her, after dripping, I let her stay on a small piece of plastic from the bag after cutting away very slowly and carefully the rest of it. Took her 24 hours to come off!
My first success, was my 5th octo, I believe it was a Bimac. I slowly dripped him for over an hour. Since that time there has been one little octo that died within a week out of probably around 8.
My procedure for acclimation is upon arrival, I pour out maybe 1/2 of the water in the bag into the sink and then place the bag, with the octo still in it in a bucket. I use a piece of plastic airline tubing with a knot tied in the middle to regulate the drip rate. Start a suction, and drip into the bag for over an hour, until the water is tripled or more in the bag. Next I pour some of the water from the bag back into the bucket and introduce the bag into the tank with the octo still in it. I like to let them come out on their own. It's fun to see the different styles the different octos have in coming out of their bag. Some come out immediately and others, very slowing, feeling around outside of the bag which sometimes can take several hours to emerge. I find going very slowly, gives less change of inking and shocking them.
Ink, was a shocky octo upon arrival. Not sure what they did to her, but you could tell she was stressed on delivery. With her, after dripping, I let her stay on a small piece of plastic from the bag after cutting away very slowly and carefully the rest of it. Took her 24 hours to come off!