I believe the short answer is I have kept at least one octopus in residence since acquiring
Trapper (December 2006) and have only tried
bendensis cuttles once with poor success (Feb 2007).
The long answer is I am still a novice (well maybe I qualify for intermediate in the hobby world if you count quantity and raising young and not just time) octo keeper and would like to grow my octopus knowledge to the point I would feel comfortable claiming a higher level of understanding. I think about trying cuttles in my largest tank from time to time and may try again once I lose my mandarin and tigger fish. Harry has been with me for four or five years and shows no signs of ill health and Winchester is fairly new to the tank so I don't expect to try again any time soon.
KaySoh (post brood) looks really sad today and almost dehydrated (I do wish I could get Roy or Steve to suggest how octos get fresh water when they fast, it puzzles me) so I will have an empty tank soon but I
really am going to wait for a hummelincki this time, I think
. It is always an
it depends when I have an empty tank as to what species is next. What
it depends on varys with how long I have to look at an empty tank and what the guys I keep in touch with in FL find or the occassional special interest item that shows up on Live Aquaria (Maya and Puddles) or by TONMO members (Thales with Beldar) or at our not so local fish store (went to pick one up once after they called to find it had been sold while we were driving to the store) and, of late, my pocket book (empty). I have not yet kept all the species of octos I would like to experience but hopefully that list grows in stead of shrinks. The ones Tracy at Octopus_Reef has put up on the availability thread keep grabbing my attention but they may be gone before the tank is empty and I can't stand it any longer (and as I was writing this, the Live Aquaria specials email popped in - fortunately, no octos). The eye size on Tracy's little guys make me think they are nocturnals and possibly dwarfs but I really have no clue what they are (and that presents an interesting challenge). I would like a diurnal to contrast with the rest of my current lot but serendipity has a way of filling my tanks that I cannot object to and always enjoy. Needless to say, I am eligable to joint the cuttle ranks at any time but would be at the bottom of the knowledge chain when I do.