aristocat;123264 said:
what kind of escape proof lid do you recommend for a 55 gallon tank to house an octopus?
Whatever keeps the tank perfectly sealed so that there are no cracks or holes the octopus can climb out of. If it can squeeze the tip of its arm through, it can basically pour its entire body out of the space, like liquid.
aristocat;123264 said:
Does an octopus need intense lighting and a bubbler?
Octopuses have no lighting needs at all. The brighter the light, the less likely your octopus will adapt, or at least it may be a while before it becomes comfortable. Bubblers have been known to cause problems for octopuses, not advised.
aristocat;123264 said:
what kind of protein skimmer would you recommend if it is needed for a 55 gallon tank?
Something rated for around 3x the size of the tank, say 150 gallons. And not a SeaClone. I like my Coralife Super Skimmer.
aristocat;123264 said:
can an octopus live with any kind of tank mates?
Starfish and urchins are the primary recommendations for tankmates. Most octopuses are highly predatory and more than capable of taking on most fish. A few of us have had luck keeping STRICTLY/ONLY
Abdopus aculeatus with peaceful non-aggressive, passive fish. There is no 100% foolproof plan when introducing something into a predators habitat though. I would suggest sticking to a seahorse friendly tankmate list, but you risk losing the fish.
aristocat;123264 said:
what is the likelihood of an octopus feeding on frozen food, and is it possible to breed fiddler crabs in captivity?
I haven't had any problems getting my octopuses to eat frozen foods, with the exception of a dwarf. I always offer them a piece of frozen shrimp or silverside or krill while they are acclimating upon arrival to test it out. It's wise to always keep some live foods on hand though just in case, and for the occasional hunting activity/stimulation. I don't think breeding fiddlers has been documented on the hobby level although I wouldn't think it to be impossible given the proper setup.
aristocat;123264 said:
what do you recommend feeding an octopus?
Various foods of strictly saltwater origin. Whatever's fresh at your local fish market/grocery store. Frozen raw shrimp, fish fillets, clams, crabs, etc. And of course the live foods like crabs and shore shrimp.
aristocat;123264 said:
what kind of entertainment do you recommend for an octopus, and do they get bored fast? would they injoy a large pbc pipe network in the tank? what toys do you recomend/
Daily interaction with you will probably be sufficient for the most part. If your octopus is shy then try things like small, clean plastic containers with food inside that won't make your presence necessary. PVC pieces have been used. I wouldn't put them all together in a network though. You may never see your octopus and it would make for a large dead-spot with no flow, creating potentially toxic zones in your aquarium, unless you drill tons of holes all through the PVC so the water flows freely through the entire pipe system. I thought about getting some of those plastic gerbil/hamster houses that are transparent. You could add food in a tricky spot and watch it figure out how to get to it.
People use things like Lego's, plastic figurines, plastic bottles, ping pong balls, infant toys. Anything non-toxic and baby-safe should be fine.