Octopuses are fascinating creatures, exhibiting unique personalities and surprising intelligence. This guide offers advice before you go out to get your own octopus aquarium.
An octopus is one of the more unique marine creatures you can keep in a home aquarium. We are fascinated by their behavior, ability to learn, and their stunning shape and color-changing abilities.
To be an effective octopus keeper, you’ll need commitment and dedication to give it a happy and healthy life.
Octopus Aquariums Requirements
Adequate size is an obvious necessity for octopus aquariums, but there is far more to consider when caring for your octopus.
You’re going to need:
- Lots of live rock (1:1 ratio for pounds of rock to gallons of water)
- A one-inch sand bed
- Wet-dry filter and sump
- Simple fluorescent light
- Protein skimmer
- Powerhead
No fancy and expensive equipment is necessary, no UV filter, no metal halides, no wavemakers.
Copper is deadly to octopuses, so make sure the aquarium you plan to use has never been treated with copper. Also, the tank must be very cycled, which will take around three months if you are just starting.
Finally, water quality is crucial. Start with RO/DI water which is available at your local LFS.
Potential Downsides of Keeping an Octopus
Some of the downsides of octopus-keeping include the short lifespan.
Most octopuses only live for roughly 1 to 5 years. The cost of food (primarily crabs and shrimp) can be quite high. They tend to hide or stay camouflaged. There is also a very short list of possible tank mates, so you most likely can’t keep your favorite coral or other fish in the same aquarium.
The biggest challenge most octopus-keepers face is providing adequate food because crabs and shrimp aren’t cheap. Most octopuses accept frozen food, but we recommend offering live food for nutrition and enrichment.
Despite some negatives of keeping this amazing animal, octopus aquariums are relatively simple. They don’t require much light, only need simple wet-dry filtration, and don’t demand the same precise conditions as reef invertebrates need.
How to Get Your Own Octopus Aquarium
We offer a variety of aquariums that will comfortably house your octopus. Take a look at our aquarium packages!
Or you can create your own octopus aquarium!
Visit our Aquarium Configurator and start designing today!
FAQ’s for Octopus Aquariums
Do Octopuses Really Only Live 1 Year?
Most of the time, yes, and that is the sad part about octopus keeping. As pets, most octopuses only last one year because they’re already a few months old by the time they arrive.
Do Octopuses Bite?
Yes, Octopuses can bite. However, none of the common species you would keep are defensive biters. Octopus bites have been described as a bee sting sensation. Avoid placing your hand in any octopus aquariums if you have an open wound, as it is pretty easy to get an infection. Many pet octopuses never bite their owners. Nevertheless, please be careful.
Why Keep An Octopus?
Keeping your octopus in a custom-built aquarium allows you to experience one of the most intelligent creatures in the sea. They are fun to interact with and fascinating to observe.
Where Can I Get The Best Octopus Aquariums?
Here at Custom Aquariums, we have over 20 years of experience to offer. All our aquariums are custom-built with the highest quality material and craftsmanship. As a result, thousands of professional and amateur keepers trust our aquariums. Experience what it’s like to keep an Octopus and custom-build your Octopus aquarium today!
Talk to one of our experts! (844) 244-8265
