What can I use to eat algae in my octopus tank ???

[coral88]

I’ve built the tank and should have water in it next week. I will have pics when it’s up and running.
Will a urchin be safe ?

 

[oceanparadise1]

A urchin should be fine.

 

[Poseidon]

Aren't most Octo tanks fairly dark anyway? I don't think you will have the same issues with algae as you do in a FOWLR, certainly WAY less then you have in a Reef tank. What are your plans for lighting?

 

[coral88]

For now one 50/50 65w PC but I think I will switch to a standard fluorescent bulb sooner than later. probably 10k or 50/50

 

[coral88]

I think I will try an urchin and if he becomes lunch so be it

 

[oceanparadise1]

they are pretty cheap and i doubt the octo will be able to eat him.

 

[coral88]

I live close to the gulf and I’m a 10min walk from Sarasota bay so at lo tide they are free we have the purple spiny urchins you see in pet stores all I have to do is go out at lo tide and pic up as many as I like or 20 I think that is the limit. I can also collect all the little crabs my octo can eat.

 

[oceanparadise1]

Wow man! anychance if i pay shipping you could send me some crabs?

 

[coral88]

I don't think they are crabs that you want but the next time I go get some I'll send you some pics and you can let me know

 

[oceanparadise1]

Cool, sounds great man, also i would take a couple urchins i actually have an all urchin tank!

 

[Echidna09]

Don't put an urchin in with an octopus. Their spines can hurt an octopus's sensitive skin. The only urchin you should put in is a pencil because they don't have sharp spikes. The octopus shouldn't eat any echinoderms.

Algae control for an octo tank is usally made up of what ever animals don't get eaten. Keeping a constant supply of snails and hermit crabs will help control your algae. Also, finding a food that your octopus likes better than snails or hermits will make it so those stay alive longer. Fiddler crabs are usually a good choice for octopus food.

You can also try lettuce nudibranchs, or a seahare if your algae is bad. When you switch your light go with 10k. It will make it so you see your octopus more and fluorescent tubes are pretty dim at 10k, you don't really want to go to 50/50 or actinic.

A lot of octos don't even touch snails or hermits.

 

[oceanparadise1]

I dont think the octo would bother the urchin thus you would not have to worry about his spines

 

[Echidna09]

I can't stop you from doing what you want but I do not recommend you put an urchin in with the octo unless it is a pencil. Octopuses like to explore and they will put their arms on everything they walk by.

 

[oceanparadise1]

True, but everyone always says how sharp they are, i have 3 and i pick them up all the time they never hurt me, but idk just MO. Im probably wrong but who knows lol

 

[Echidna09]

I know... and I know that it isn't a good idea. I'm not trying to be rude but octopus skin and human skin are vastly different, and what is fine for us to touch is not the same as what is fine for an octopus to touch. The same reasoning (though this may be easier for some people to grasp) goes into why you don't want to put an octopus in a tank full of anemones or euphyllia. I've touched dozens of each, but just because I haven't gotten stung doesn't mean my octopus isn't going to. (Just the opposite in fact, I guarantee you your octopus will get stung in that case.)

 

[coral88]

Ok so no sharp spine urchins and my common octopus loves to eat snails and hermit crabs. I have about a dozen fiddler crabs I collected the other day and he seems to like those as well. Thanks for the info

 

[oceanparadise1]

O so the crabs u get are fiddler crabs! they are fresh water correct?

 

[coral88]

No salt water fiddler crabs and I can get a few others as well

 

[oceanparadise1]

Are they reef safe?

 

[coral88]

Probably not but like I said next time I go collect I'll send you a pic and if you want some I will give you a more than good deal on what ever you want