Octopus
Octopuses are interesting creatures. They have three hearts and blue blood, they squirt ink to deter predators, and being boneless they can squeeze into (or out of) tight spaces. One more fun fact about them is that octopuses are known for their intelligence—they've even been observed using tools! They're also still considered mysterious and often thought of as alien.
Octopuses can become very large over time, so it is recommended that you have at least a 60-gallon tank for one. You will need an aquarium, a proper tank hood, a gravel substrate, rocks, and coral to create a hiding place, a place for a small den or cave, a plastic sea sponge filter filled with activated carbon, an under-gravel power filter with bio-balls for biological filtration, and timer controls. It is also important to have access to fresh saltwater so that you can make the necessary water changes.
Octopuses eat a varied diet, which typically consists of shrimp, crabs, fish, and clams. In captivity, however, they will need to be fed foods that are commercially available at aquarium stores such as frozen Mysis shrimp and squid, and sometimes live food such as ghost shrimp or feeder fish.
Octopuses can reach about six feet in length, which makes them the largest of the invertebrates. They are hunters by nature and so need to be provided with enough space to stalk their prey. Your octopus will also need two gallons of salt water for every one gallon in its tank, so you should plan accordingly when picking your tank.
This is a great pet for a more advanced aquarist, as octopuses require lots of care and attention. Make sure you're ready before bringing one home!
Octopuses are ocean creatures that are most famous for having eight arms and bulbous heads. They have three hearts and blue blood; they squirt ink to deter predators; and being boneless, they can squeeze into (or out of) tight spaces. They are quite intelligent and have been observed using tools. One more fun fact about them is that octopuses are known for their intelligence—they've even been observed using tools! They're also still considered mysterious and often thought of as alien.
Octopuses can become very large over time, so it is recommended that you have at least a 60-gallon tank for one. You will need an aquarium, a proper tank hood, a gravel substrate, rocks, and coral to create a hiding place, a place for a small den or cave, a plastic sea sponge filter filled with activated carbon, an under-gravel power filter with bio-balls for biological filtration, and timer controls. It is also important to have access to fresh saltwater so that you can make the necessary water changes.