Blue ring octopus

[Juanhunglo69]

I decided to take the plunge and try something different. One ten gallon aga barebottom with one 2-3 pound peice of live rock that has a cave like bottom. I have had the tank running with what seems like no cycle yet. I have a bio wheel 150 with the biowheel removed for moving/filtering the water and a small heater to keep it warm for the little guy. I know that I don't want to get bitten and am even a little hesitant to put my hands in this water after he goes in. I will more than likely wear rubber gloves for water changes. My LFS agreed to get one but said that I had to pick it up the day that it came in. He doesn't even want to even keep it in the store. Any body else keep one of these?

[jemram]

You're a braver man than me, thats for sure!

[formerly icyuodd/icyoud2]

keeping a blue ring, is like playing russian roulette.

 

http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-gr...ngedoctopus.htm

 

"It starts life the size of a pea and is fully grown at about the size of a golf ball.

They have a life span of approx. 2 years.

Carry enough poison to kill 26 adults within minutes. "

 

"With a beak that can penetrate a wet-suit, they are one little cute creature to definitely look at BUT Don't touch.

 

The bite might be painless, but this octopus injects a neuromuscular paralysing venom. The venom contains some maculotoxin, a poison more violent than any found on land animals. The nerve conduction is blocked and neuromuscular paralysis is followed by death. The victim might be saved if artificial respiration starts before marked cyanosis and hypotension develops. The blue-ringed octopus is the size of a golf ball but its poison is powerful enough to kill an adult human in minutes. There's no known antidote. The only treatment is hours of heart massage and artificial respiration until the poison has worked its way out of your system.

 

The venom contains tetrodotoxin, which blocks sodium channels and causes motor paralysis and occasionally respiratory failure. Though with fixed dilated pupils, the senses of the patients are often intact. The victims are aware but unable to respond.

 

Although the painless bite can kill an adult, injuries have only occurred when an octopus has been picked out of its pool and provoked or stepped on.

 

SYMPTOMS

 

Onset of nausea.

Hazy Vision. ( Within seconds you are blind.)

Loss of sense of touch, speech and the ability to swallow.

Within 3 minutes, paralysis sets in and your body goes into respiratory arrest.

The poison is not injected but is contained in the octopus's saliva, which comes from two glands each as big as its brain. Poison from the one is used on its main prey, crabs, and is relatively harmless to humans. Poison from the other gland serves as defense against predators. The blue-ringed octopus either secretes the poison in the vicinity of its prey, waits until it is immobile and then devours it, or it jumps out and envelops the prey in its 8 tentacles and bites it.

 

 

First Aid

 

First aid for blue-ringed octopus bites

 

Pressure-immobilization is a recommended first aid. Prolonged artificial respiration may also be required. May require supportive treatment including mechanical ventilation until the effects of the toxin disappear. There is no antivenin available in Australia.

Mouth to mouth resuscitation can keep the victim alive and the poison gradually wears off after 24 hrs, apparently leaving no side effects. "

[jemram]

Put simply, if it bites you, you're dead

[supernip]

biowheel= escape path. You might want to rethink your hardware if you want this to be anywhere close to viable

[Juanhunglo69]

I looked at the same warnings, I may go even bolder and carry him around in my pocket in a plastic bag. I wonder how I can circulate and filter the water. JUST KIDDING!!! LOL

 

I have read thoroughly on these guys and have backed out and rethought my plans twice now. That is the reason for the single piece of rock and no sand. This way there is no doubt where he is when I do the water changes and such. When I get the call from the LFS I will post pics. apparently you can't see them until they are about to attack. I hope that this is not the case as I may never want to see him.

 

 

 

biowheel= escape path. You might want to rethink your hardware if you want this to be anywhere close to viable

 

 

Got any suggestions for filtration then? The tank will be hooded and I guess that I can take my time to ensure that the hood is cutout exactly for the biowheel.(Thanks dremel tool) Unless you have anything better.

[formerly icyuodd/icyoud2]

these gus can squeeze through the smallest of holes.

 

i'd build an overflow similar to this.

 

dont drill the tank, just place a powerhead in the bottom of the overflow (returning the water to the display) with a sponge ontop to prevent the octopus from getting sucked in.

 

that way you can cut and fit a piece of plexi to seal the tank tight without holes for escape.

 

the octo will only show his blue rings when it feels threatened.

[oogie]

Wow.... Is it really worth the risk? Can these guys stay out of water for long time?

[formerly icyuodd/icyoud2]

long enough to be eaten by your pet, or discovered by a curious child.

[clifford513]

Or when forced to wear a santa hat

 

Oh, and please tell me you don't have any kids, or any nieces or newphew who visit, or live in a dorm where intoxicating parties go on.

[Mudfish]

"...apparently you can't see them until they are about to attack. I hope that this is not the case as I may never want to see him."

 

 

If you seldom see him/never want to see him, (ahem, ahem) (clears throat) WHY?

[travisurfer]

i would get tongs

[tinyreef]

why don't you try a harmless oct first? especially if this is your first octopus.

 

why are you trying to learn to drive on a nascar raceway?

 

try octopets.com for bimac and if all goes well at least you know your setup's octopus proof. 1~2 years then go for the bro. it'd be a shame if it dies from the setup being inadequate. no offense to the bimac but it's cheaper and safer.

 

always keep at least 50% of the tank volume on-hand. you never know when an inking situation can occur. good luck!

 

 

 

can i have your stuff if the bro bites you?

[mattyice]

octopets.com is no longer in business, they cant be too deadly as its one of the peacock mantis' favorite food sources, then again i think their shell is a little more bite resistant then human skin lol, and yes i would try and learn on a different octo first, maybe try a cuttlefish if you would really like to keep somthing different, or if you are really wanting something off the wall and rare, try and find a nautilus

[tinyreef]

octopets.com is no longer in business

aww, that sux. i knew he had that lost crop (last year?) but i thought he was getting back into business.

 

dammit, that's too bad. he had other great stuff too besides the octs.

[RayWhisperer]

they cant be too deadly as its one of the peacock mantis' favorite food sources,

Actually, you've got that backwards. The mantis is the octopus' primary food source.

 

Ok, let's see, where to start.....

First, I'd say you need a protien skimmer. That's a MUST HAVE with pretty much any octopus.

 

Second, you'll need to seal off the top. I mean everywhere. Though BRO's generally won't leave the water, it will if it wants to bad enough.

 

Third, I'd look into some kind of canister filter that can be drilled/bulkheaded into the tank.

 

That's just the beginning. I've got to go get some smokes now. I'll be back soon.

[clifford513]

I've got to go get some smokes now.

 

Seriously, I'm not the only one? Sorry for using your av without permission, but it was just too tempting

 

And yes, mattyice, they are very poisonous. Do a search. You will be surprised. The info Icy posted is not something he made up. It is well documented.

[pheallox]

Ok I have been planning for a blue ring for a while but with some thing this deadly you need to plan and plan then replan, I am going with a 30 hex with a closed loop with the intake behind a false wall to hide equipment, the wall has teath on top and holes near the base I am closing off the holes and teath with nylon window screen and there is a fitted lid that is held down by my canopy and has a removable peice of acrylic that is drilled into place. and better safe then sorry I have 2 more bulkheads one for water changes and the other will have a peice of pvc running obove the water line for feading.

 

Remember if his beak can fit he can fit.

[clifford513]

Sounds like you have it pretty well planned out. I would suggest that anyone with children refrain from keeping a bro, though. Murphy's Law.

[Juanhunglo69]

I kinda figured that I would catch some flak and that is why I posted. I wanted to see if what kept me from doing it the two times before would still stop me. I am still leaning towards getting it. The tank will be in a home with no kids and no drunken dorm parties. I can't keep it at my house because I have two kids and two 2 year old visitors all of the time and an English Bulldog that would probably eat it if it ever did get out. The house where he will be at is a single guys that knows first hand what happens when you get bit from one. He has a few extra rooms in his house and will more than likely be setting up a 150 gallon over there as well.

[RayWhisperer]

Seriously, I'm not the only one?

It'll kill me faster than a blue ring octo!

Sorry for using your av without permission, but it was just too tempting biggrin.gif

Go right ahead. You are the one who gave it Christmas cheer!

 

OK, back to the matter at hand.

 

You'll need ALOT more LR than that, unless you want to change water daily.

 

They are hunters, so you'll need to give it mostly live food. That means a pretty expensive food bill. FW crabs and shrimp won't do.

 

Back on escape. The only thing that limits them from escape, is their beak size. A BRO has a TINY beak, so sealing off a bio-wheel isn't possible. You'll also need to do things to occupy it. I made an acrylic maze for food. They don't seem particularly interested in toys perse, and aren't strong enough to open jars. So, those are pretty much out. The more it has to occupy itself, the less likely escape will be. This kindof comes back to the LR.... The more cracks, crevices, and caves it has to use, the more occupied it will be.

 

You'll need ALOT of suface area for gas exchange, ontop of the protien skimmer. All octopus need near saturation levels of D.O.

 

Your rubber gloves won't help you of it decides to bite.

The blue-ringed octopus either secretes the poison in the vicinity of its prey, waits until it is immobile and then devours it,

From personal experience, I've decided this is complete hogwash. Reports of people feeling the effects of the toxin (TTX) are from bagged specimens, or dead ones. Mine lived with fish, never bothered them. And never, did I, or the fish, show ANY signs of envenomation.

 

I'm pretty tired of typing now. But I will tell you two more things...

 

I live ALONE, and have very few friends. The only ones in danger were myself, and my dog. If you have family, children, or friends over often..... DO NOT GET ONE! I'm not flaming you, I'm just telling you, for yours, and others safety. This little animal is one of the MOST DEADLY animals in the world.

 

And lastly, if your going to get one... Now is the worst time. Mating and egg laying occurs around december. This is the end of their life cycle. If you get one now, you'll more than likely only have it for a few weeks at best.

 

I'll post some pics for you next.

[mattyice]

ooo i was just being sarcastic i know that they are very poisoness just trying to make a funny

[RayWhisperer]

This is what it will look like most of the time.

Another pic. Really not too colorful. The blue rings are visible, but no intensity.

Here is what it will look like when aggrevated, not threatened.

Here is what it will look like when it means business.

 

As an after thought.... If it doesn't want to be seen, it can camoflage itself to where you will never see it. Many a time I searched the tank over, never saw it. Only to have it flash it's color inches away from my hand.

[clifford513]

Sweet pics Ray and excellent advice. None of my posts were meant as flames! I have read a lot about blue rings. Kinda scary when you think about one of your meddling kids getting to one. That would make the risk far outweigh any joy I could see with keeping one. Beautiful animal though!

[RayWhisperer]

Thanks Cliff, that last one is blurry. I was walking away when it flashed. I tried my best to get the shot. Stupid damsel was bugging it. I really wished it would have killed that fish!