- Joined
- Oct 18, 2005
- Messages
- 7
Hey to all!
You've got a complete newbie here, but one who will do months and months of research before providing a home for an octopus...so I'll probably have some really inane questions at first...and this may be the first in the Inanity Series!
Here's the scoop: In reading many posts about cycling a tank (thank you, Dan, for pointing the way to that wonderful post on Reef Central about maturing a tank!), I understand that the tank can become malodorous...and a stink in any animal environment usually means bacteria.
I live in a small apartment, and I have two African Grey parrots. And those parrots, who I love as much as I will love the octopus when it finally comes home, are susceptible to bacteria. My question is this: Can I leave the tank completely enclosed as it cycles (with the exception of pulling samples for testing) and is the smell pervasive enough to indicate an extreme concentration of bacteria?
I already have a 30 gallon tank (freshwater) with three Black Moors, and a five gallon with one betta, and the birds LOVE the fish. One of the parrots, Jimmy, seems to think the betta is his. He HAS to help feed King Louie the Fishteenth every day, and says, "food, Louie, FOOD!" when he "helps" feed him. He also flies frequently to the back of the couch, and watches the Black Moors in their tank. When I change the water, he says, "shower, shower, fish...get clean!"
I can't wait to see what he thinks of an octopus! But I am concerned about the airborne smell of a tank as it is cycling...has anyone else here ever dealt with this problem with parrots and cycling a tank?
Also, I'm wondering about the placement of the tank. If it matters, I plan to adopt a bimac, because I am such a newbie. I don't want to cause stress to the octopus, but I'd like to have the tank, against a wall, in my tiny living room along with the birds. Does a lot of movement beyond the world of their aquarium bother the octopus?
Also, does the octopus prefer a darker background in the back of the tank as opposed to clear? And does anyone know if they prefer the much darker black to the brighter blue? With any animal, I think it's important to reproduce their natural world as much as possible, so I am thinking they might like the black better. I want the little creature to be happy, so any advice you could give on this would be welcome.
Lastly, I've read on several posts that some people keep "critter cages" to house living food in the main aquarium. Could this possibly cause stress to the octopus?
The reason I'm asking is this. I used to keep Old World chameleons--animals which also hunt by sight. Keeping their food in a clear container within their living space would have stressed those green, scaly, wily gypies immensely...they have no concept of glass or clear plastic and being unable to get to food they could obviously see would not have been a good thing for them...stress can kill those shy creatures.
Do you think this same type of set up could cause stress to an octopus? If so, is it a good idea set up a separate "food" tank prior to setting up the tank for the octopus? How large should I go on the food tank? With the chameleons, I used to feed their crickets really good food, so they'd be "charged up" with nutrients--and I'd like to do the same for the octopus. I live in Seattle, so there are LFS here, but I'd prefer to feed the octopus's food myself to ensure good nutrition.
Another recommendation mentioned gluing the live rock in the aquarium so the octopus doesn't cause an avalanche if he or she wishes to rearrange the tank. Is there a certain type of glue that should be use? I know some glues contain zinc (bad for birds!) and that makes me worriy about any copper elements that may be used in glues, but of which I would be unaware...any recommendations would be much appreciated.
Thats about it for now...the ending of the first query in the Inanity Series. I hope you've been able to stay awake through it! I so want to do what's "right," so any advice from your years of experience is very, very welcome!
Thanks in advance,
Miss Scribbles
You've got a complete newbie here, but one who will do months and months of research before providing a home for an octopus...so I'll probably have some really inane questions at first...and this may be the first in the Inanity Series!
Here's the scoop: In reading many posts about cycling a tank (thank you, Dan, for pointing the way to that wonderful post on Reef Central about maturing a tank!), I understand that the tank can become malodorous...and a stink in any animal environment usually means bacteria.
I live in a small apartment, and I have two African Grey parrots. And those parrots, who I love as much as I will love the octopus when it finally comes home, are susceptible to bacteria. My question is this: Can I leave the tank completely enclosed as it cycles (with the exception of pulling samples for testing) and is the smell pervasive enough to indicate an extreme concentration of bacteria?
I already have a 30 gallon tank (freshwater) with three Black Moors, and a five gallon with one betta, and the birds LOVE the fish. One of the parrots, Jimmy, seems to think the betta is his. He HAS to help feed King Louie the Fishteenth every day, and says, "food, Louie, FOOD!" when he "helps" feed him. He also flies frequently to the back of the couch, and watches the Black Moors in their tank. When I change the water, he says, "shower, shower, fish...get clean!"
I can't wait to see what he thinks of an octopus! But I am concerned about the airborne smell of a tank as it is cycling...has anyone else here ever dealt with this problem with parrots and cycling a tank?
Also, I'm wondering about the placement of the tank. If it matters, I plan to adopt a bimac, because I am such a newbie. I don't want to cause stress to the octopus, but I'd like to have the tank, against a wall, in my tiny living room along with the birds. Does a lot of movement beyond the world of their aquarium bother the octopus?
Also, does the octopus prefer a darker background in the back of the tank as opposed to clear? And does anyone know if they prefer the much darker black to the brighter blue? With any animal, I think it's important to reproduce their natural world as much as possible, so I am thinking they might like the black better. I want the little creature to be happy, so any advice you could give on this would be welcome.
Lastly, I've read on several posts that some people keep "critter cages" to house living food in the main aquarium. Could this possibly cause stress to the octopus?
The reason I'm asking is this. I used to keep Old World chameleons--animals which also hunt by sight. Keeping their food in a clear container within their living space would have stressed those green, scaly, wily gypies immensely...they have no concept of glass or clear plastic and being unable to get to food they could obviously see would not have been a good thing for them...stress can kill those shy creatures.
Do you think this same type of set up could cause stress to an octopus? If so, is it a good idea set up a separate "food" tank prior to setting up the tank for the octopus? How large should I go on the food tank? With the chameleons, I used to feed their crickets really good food, so they'd be "charged up" with nutrients--and I'd like to do the same for the octopus. I live in Seattle, so there are LFS here, but I'd prefer to feed the octopus's food myself to ensure good nutrition.
Another recommendation mentioned gluing the live rock in the aquarium so the octopus doesn't cause an avalanche if he or she wishes to rearrange the tank. Is there a certain type of glue that should be use? I know some glues contain zinc (bad for birds!) and that makes me worriy about any copper elements that may be used in glues, but of which I would be unaware...any recommendations would be much appreciated.
Thats about it for now...the ending of the first query in the Inanity Series. I hope you've been able to stay awake through it! I so want to do what's "right," so any advice from your years of experience is very, very welcome!
Thanks in advance,
Miss Scribbles