Squid care? (renamed)

[supersquid_girl]

Is there any where where i can talk about squid care?

 

[bobwonderbuns]

Supersquid girl! Glad you've joined our little group here. Anything about squids, octos, cuttlefish and anything else ceph related is a go here. If you look on the home page under articles, there are a number of good articles on ceph care. Squids aren't really kept in captivity, although Dr. Steve O'Shea has had some success in this. Was there anything specific you would like to know about squid care?

 

[supersquid_girl]

ummm.. what they eat, where you can get circular tanks near vancouver, and do they have any special needs?

 

[Mizu]

Yeah closest any of us get to squid is cuttle fish .
grr I rember reading they like more waterflow than cuttles.
cant rember where i read that though

 

[cthulhu77]

While we try to encourage people to learn more about cephs and the keeping of them for education in captivity, squids are for the most part "unkept" for a variety of reasons. If you could obtain a very, very large circular tank (perhaps even an inflatable pool) they could be kept for a while...the biggest problem with maintaining them is that they jet at very high speeds, typically crashing into the sides of their container, and rupturing their insides (resulting in death). Dr. O'Shea and the rest of the squid experts could tell you what size of tank/pool you would require for something like loligo, but I think the total cost of such a project is more likely to be undertaken by a research lab or university.

It would be interesting to hear more from you about your interest in squids, they are fascinating animals.

greg

 

[TidePool Geek]

ummm.. what they eat, where you can get circular tanks near vancouver, and do they have any special needs?

Hi SSG,

The answers to all your questions are very much predicated on what species of squid you plan to keep. Since, to my knowledge, squid aren't normally available to the aquarium trade, I wonder if you're planning to get something from your local waters. If so, your number one priority should be keeping the water cold enough - below 12C (54F).

There are two local choices:

1. Opalescent squid (Loligo opalescens) - This fellow is pelagic in nature and quite short lived, even by ceph standards. They eat fish and other squid and probably need too much space to be practical for anything but a large public institution.

2. Stubby squid (Rossia pacifica) - This one is benthic and could probably be kept in an ordinary tank of about 110 liters (30 gallon) with some fine sand or mud since they like to bury themselves during the day. Their favorite food seems to be shrimp but it would likely be perfectly happy to eat tankmates if you put it in a community situation.

Of course, if you plan to somehow obtain a tropical species, everything I've said here is wrong.

Incorrectly yours,

Alex

P.S. The most economical round tank is probably a polyethylene livestock watering tank. Check with a local farm supply store.

 

[kinetic]

Do you guys have any information on Bobtail Squids?

http://www.sergeyphoto.com/underwater/cephalopods/bobtailsquid.html


I want to learn more, and to see if it can be kept in a reef tank of about 98 gallons.

thanks!

 

[supersquid_girl]

Is there any squid that can be kept in a tank smaller than 50 liters?

 

[cuttlegirl]

So that would be about 13 gallons??? No. I don't think anyone here would recommend a tank that small.

 

[Cephkid]

So that would be about 13 gallons??? No. I don't think anyone here would recommend a tank that small.

I concur.

 

[kinetic]

what size for a bobtail? 98g tank ok? 36 x 25 x 25?

 

[clownfish]

what size for a bobtail? 98g tank ok? 36 x 25 x 25?

Im not an expert on squid but I beleive you can keep a bob tail squid in a 98 gallon. I thought the limit was around 55 gallons. But Im not sure.

-Tom

 

[Jean]

SSgirl

Squid are notoriously difficult to keep. They need LOTS of space and their are some plastics you can't use..........I forget which, but Steve knows (pm him!!) also feeding is a HUGE issue squid very rarely scavenge, you'll need a much larger supply of live food that you need with a similar sized octopus, larger plankton (eg euphasids, mysids etc) small fish and so on. Squid also can't deal with rocks etc in tanks. They also need a fairly large volume (50G or larger). They have a more severe startle reaction than octopus.

I've held Southern Arrow Squid for a very short time. Steve O and Kat are the experts tho!

The bobtails etc are much easier to keep!

J

 

[dragonfish]

I don't know about private keepers. but my girlfriend went to australia last september and in sydney aquarium they kept a (small) squidspecies.

don't know about the size or shape tank though. I'll check with her and post it later on

 

[supersquid_girl]

ok any squid that can be kept in a tank smaller than 50 gallons?