New O.briareus help

[Reefsalot]

Good evening,
A little background on me, I’ve been in the reefkeeping world for about 13 years as a hobbyist turned professional. I run a full time aquarium maintenance company, so I’ve cared for so many different types of animals.

My concern with my Little octo is that I’ve had him for about two days and he hasn’t come out of the rock he was hiding in, he is light in color but assuming that’s because the rock is very light in color as well. He has one chromis and 4 snails, 3 hermits and 2 emerald crabs in the tank all for food. But it seems he hasn’t come out and I can only see him through a small hole roughly 3/16” in diameter.

I acclimated him over the course of serval hours, temp is at 79, all parameters are good- nitrate at 4ppm, 0 ammonia, ph is 8.2.

How long does it take for them to become comfortable in their home ?

 

[Deleted member 14033]

2 weeks to fully acclimate. (Though I think I have read 10 days somewhere too) Try not to bug it a lot for that time. Just do your usual feeding and maintenance. Do you have another place for the fish to be? I would move it at least temporarily. It might help it come out

 

[Reefsalot]

2 weeks to fully acclimate. (Though I think I have read 10 days somewhere too) Try not to bug it a lot for that time. Just do your usual feeding and maintenance. Do you have another place for the fish to be? I would move it at least temporarily. It might help it come out

Yea I can put him back in the store system, I just grabbed him come out and eat. I figured chromis hide in rocks at night so that would be an easy meal. I’ll pull him out and keep away from the tank.

 

[Deleted member 14033]

Yea I can put him back in the store system, I just grabbed him come out and eat. I figured chromis hide in rocks at night so that would be an easy meal. I’ll pull him out and keep away from the tank.

Ok. Make sure the octopus eats. Try live emerald crabs just to make sure it has an appetite.

 

[Reefsalot]

I put a few emeralds in there today, however I noticed the damsel is no longer in the tank…..so I’m assuming he ate him

 

[Deleted member 14033]

Let us know if it eats any emeralds please

 

[Reefsalot]

Today ther was 2 pairs of legs that’s where remains for two emerald crabs. So yes he is eating just can’t see him during the day- but this to be normal for now

 

[pkilian]

That's totally normal behavior for a new octopus. As Timothy said, 10-14 days is a very normal period of time for acclimation. You may also just have a shy octopus. They may become more comfortable in the tank and come out more, but they may also be content to hide in the rocks and eat at night. It's good to see that they are eating.

 

[Reefsalot]

Another few missing this morning. The emeralds seem to be on edge lol. How many should these octo eat in a week? I order the emeralds for our store but 12 a week seemed enough but I think we would need more.
How many do yours eat?

 

[Deleted member 14033]

Food really only needs to be a little bigger than there eyeball. Though you could go bigger but you want to cut back on left over body parts. How big is it? If this octopus is hand sized one emerald a day should be fine. Feed once a day.
Also what temperature are you keeping it at?
20°c is their low end. So I would shoot for 70°F that way you can extend its life cycle.

 

[Reefsalot]

Okay awesome, he is small he fits inside a 1/2pvc pipe. And the temp is at 78

 

[Deleted member 14033]

the temp is at 78

I would try to lower the temperature if possible. Take out any heater and let the system run at room temperature

 

[AuroraVK]

Any update?

 

[Reefsalot]

He seems okay , don’t see him but just notice the emerald crabs are being killed every day so he’s eating. The temp is brought down to low to mid 70’s.

 

[Reefsalot]

Hey I just wanted to update this post. Our little guy is doing great eating fresh shrimp pieces when I run out of emeralds- he is eating 12 emeralds in two weeks. He doesn’t come out at all during the day time.