Keeping an octopus as a pet has become more common as interest in new and varied aquarium creatures and setups increases. Their popularity has grown since the tank creation of comedian Tracy Morgan's octopus was featured on the television show Tanked. These fascinating creatures have very specific care needs and are not the best choice for novice fish keepers.
Octopus Facts
An octopus is an invertebrate animal of the scientific order Octopoda. The octopus does not have a spine, skeleton or any type of protective coating. The only part of their body that is not soft is their beak which is found at the base of their tentacles. These tentacles are actually arms which are covered with suction cups and about 66% of the neurons for an octopus are located in their arms. This allows them to use their arms to sense their environment and explore, and they can even "taste" using the suction cups on their arms. They also have three hearts and blue blood which is high in hemocyanin, a protein that contains copper, unlike the hemoglobin which contains iron.
Legality of Owning an Octopus
There are over 300 species of octopus today and none of them thankfully are on the endangered species list. There are currently no laws regarding keeping a pet octopus and you don't need a permit in any states. However, you may have trouble keeping one if you live in an apartment or condominium. Many buildings have strict rules about tank size and you cannot keep them in a small tank.
What Species of Octopus Are Kept as Pets?
Many species of octopus are unsuitable as pets, either due to their size or the fact that they can be toxic to humans. For example the blue-ringed octopus emits a dangerous venom when it bites that cannot be cured. There are a few species of octopus that are safe and commonly sold as pets. These include the:
- Algae octopus can live in a tank of a minimum size of 50 gallons. It's known for being active, even during the day when other species are more likely to hide. The algae octopus needs an average water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Atlantic pygmy octopus is one of the smallest species and they will grow to about five-and-a-half inches long (three inches of which will be their arms). They are a good choice for a beginner as they have the smallest tank size needs. They need to have excellent hiding spots as they can be shy. They also have been observed playing and can be a fun octopus to watch.
- California two-spot octopus is one of the most popular pet octopus species. It has arms that can grow as long as 23 inches, with a mantle up to seven inches. The minimum tank size for this octopus is 50 gallons. This species is also called the bimac. They require a water temperature of around 59° to 72° degrees Fahrenheit. They are thought to be one of the "friendlier" types of octopus that are kept as pets.
- Caribbean dwarf octopus is a smaller octopus that can live in a 30 gallon tank. This species has a short lifespan in captivity of about eight to 10 months. They require a tank that has water around 74° to 76° degrees Fahrenheit.
- Caribbean reef octopus needs a tank of at least 50 to 75 gallons with an average water temperature of 78° degrees Fahrenheit. This is another species considered friendly and suitable as a pet.
- Common octopus can be as small as 12 inches long or as big as 24 to 36 inches. It will need a tank that is a minimum of 50 gallons. This species has been the one used most often by researchers.
- East Pacific red octopus, or ruby octopus, is on the small side and can live in a smaller aquarium. An adult will weigh around five ounces and will be about 20 inches long overall. Since they come from the colder waters of the Pacific, they need an average water temperature of around 60° to 65° degrees Fahrenheit.
Care of a Pet Octopus
Caring for a pet octopus requires a weekly time commitment and can be expensive. Although they're fascinating creatures, take time to research their needs before getting a pet octopus.
Proper Tank Set-Up for a Pet Octopus
Octopuses live in reefs in the wild and need a tank with live rock that simulates that environment. They are nocturnal and need to have a tank with formations where they can hide in the daytime. In addition to live rock, they like large shells or PVC pipes for hiding in. They are also very strong and can move rocks and other hiding items around, so make sure your setup is very secure before adding your octopus. Because the octopus has a high metabolism, they need to have a high oxygen content in their water. They also need strong filtration as they are messy eaters and shed their skin often into the water, making it get dirty faster. A high quality protein skimmer will help keep the water clean and well oxygenated.
Octopus Tank Lighting
Do not use any harsh lighting in the tank and keep it away from sunlight. They prefer to live in the dark and will tolerate a weak light on during the day and no light in the evenings.
Toxicity in an Octopus Tank
Make sure your tank does not have any copper in it anywhere. It is toxic and can kill your octopus.
Water in an Octopus Tank
Your tank temperature will vary based on the species and some will prefer waters around 60° degrees while others can go as high as 80°. The pH should be about 8.2 and ammonia at zero. If these levels are off, they can easily make your octopus ill or kill it. Because they are so sensitive to the water quality, you must also cycle your tank for at least three months prior to adding your octopus. You should also regularly test salinity which should be around 1.022 to 1.023.
The Octopus Escape Artist
Because the majority of their body is soft, they can squeeze through some incredibly small openings and their arms are strong enough to push open a tank lid and escape. Because of this you need to make sure your aquarium lid is tightly secured and there are no openings they can break out. Some octopus keepers have astro turf or velcro along the top of their tanks as the scratchy feeling is a deterrent for their arms reaching to the lid. Others keep the lid secured with duct tape, bungee cords or even heavy items like weights or bricks. One of the other problems with the tank set-up is finding a way to set up your various filters and skimmers without giving the octopus access to them where they can either break them apart or find a hole to squeeze into.
Pet Octopus Behavior
The octopus is a highly intelligent animal that is thought to have the same level of intelligence and reasoning as a cat. They have been known to open shut jars with food inside and figure out how to escape tanks. Some keepers relate that they can distinguish between different people. In fact they are so intelligent that hobby keepers report that it's not unusual for an octopus to break out of their tank, slither over to one nearby and eat the fish and crustaceans, and then return to their own "home" tank. One of the reasons the octopus has become popular with aquarium hobbyists is that this is one creature you can truly interact with. They can be trained and can learn to be hand fed. You should also spend time learning about octopus body language and "coloring" as they can change colors and their choice of hues actually indicates whether they are excited, stressed or scared.
Providing Octopus Enrichment
The downside to the intelligence of the octopus is that this is an animal that can quickly become very bored. Providing them with toys, live food to hunt, and training can help alleviate this boredom. Any plastic, water-safe, non-metal item can be a toy and some octopuses in captivity will play with small balls and toys made for cats and small animals. They also enjoy playing with shells and even your hands, although you should be careful to make sure they don't pull you too close to their beak and get bitten. Making them work for their food also reduces boredom, such as putting some live ghost shrimp in a jar and closing the lid and giving it to them.
Pet Octopus Diet
Your octopus should be fed once a day. Most octopus species will prefer to have live food though you can try to see if they will eat frozen.If you do feed frozen make sure the food is thawed first. Even if they're willing to eat frozen, live is better as this provides them with mental and physical enrichment. They are carnivorous and can eat clams, crabs, crayfish, fish, scallops, shrimp, and squid. Do not feed them freshwater feeder fish like goldfish as these can make them ill.
Tank Mates for an Octopus
Since the octopus is a carnivore and aggressive, they cannot live in a tank with other aquatic creatures. They will actively hunt down and eat any fish or crustaceans that you add to a tank. They also are shy creatures so having tank mates would make them anxious and stressed. An octopus that is stressed can emit ink to defend itself and this can be toxic to the octopus in such a small space. The only creatures you can safely put in the tank are a starfish or a non-spiked sea urchin. Even placing two octopuses together will not work as one will eventually kill and cannibalize the other.
Health and Lifespan of a Pet Octopus
Most species of octopus do not live very long in a tank and generally have a short lifespan in the wild as well. You can expect a pet octopus to live about eight to 10 months, though some can live up to two years.
Cost of an Octopus
You will find a wide range of pricing for a pet octopus from specialty pet stores and online retailers. They can cost anywhere from $20 to $1,000. You will also need to figure in the cost of a tank which can be several hundred dollars, especially since you need a tank with specific requirements to prevent escape. You also need to add in the cost of live food monthly, which is estimated around $100 a month though this will depends on the size of your octopus.
Should You Keep an Octopus as a Pet?
It's no doubt that the octopus is an intriguing creature that can be more interesting and interactive than other typical aquarium residents. However, they do not live very long, they're expensive to keep and you need to be absolutely sure your tank set-up is sound and escape proof. Your octopus will also need constant care so if you need to travel, you must be able to find a pet sitter experienced in caring and feeding them. There's also a debate whether it's humane to keep such an intelligent creature in a small space, and whether it's possible to provide them with enough mental enrichment to keep them from being bored and stressed.
