Octopus Q & A

[Scruffy]

Thanks so much for all your great answers. I will get a Damsel or something similar to cycle my tank with, my only concern is i'll have no where to put it once I get an octo! I won't be hasty and get an octopus as soon as the tank is cycled, I will wait untill I fully understand everything involved.
Thanks again, I really appreciate it!

 

[shipposhack]

Is it true that you can keep starfish and sea cucumbers with your octo and they will be fine? If you can would you be able to just buy a couple of those and let it cycle with them, or do you need fish? Would the cucumbers crush up the sand into a finer grade that would be better for the octo?

 

[Animal Mother]

I wouldn't add any living creatures until the ammonia levels are at 0. I'd wait about 6 weeks after initial setup, then add something to jump start the biological filtration.

 

[Jean]

Is it true that you can keep starfish and sea cucumbers with your octo and they will be fine? If you can would you be able to just buy a couple of those and let it cycle with them, or do you need fish? Would the cucumbers crush up the sand into a finer grade that would be better for the octo?

We keep stars but not cucumbers with ours. The cucumbers have a distressing tendency to toss out their alimentary tract if harassed............very hard on your filters!

I don't think stars or cucs will be enough to cycle your tank. As for what to do with a fish once your tank has cycled? Check with your LFS often they'll take them back........or perhaps you have a friend with a tank who would appreciate a donation?

Cheers

J

 

[seamonkey]

Octopodes can only sense very low frequencies-- below about 20Hz.
Just don't put a subwoofer underneath the tank, and you shouldn't have any problems.

Elron