Worried About New Octopuses - Page 2

schmunkel98 · 01/17/2002, 09:44 PM

Ahh, so I'm not the only one having a hard time getting cuttles for their home aquarium. Let me know where you get yours from when you do in case my LFS fails to deliver. Anyway, I think I'm going to wait a week or so until I hear back about if I can get the cuttles or not. If I can then great, but if I can't then I will double my efforts with the octopuses. Thanks for the feeding tips. Do you know of anyone out there that actually has shots on a web site of an octopus getting fed? Other than Jimbo Louis and Colin, I haven't seen many sites out there.

Mike

www.schmunkel.0catch.com

OctoMonkey · 01/19/2002, 09:20 AM

Mike/Chris
I have some short (15 seconds) MPG of me feeding the cuttles dead shrimp and stuff. Is it possible to upload them onto this site????

On another note. I can now see developments within my briareus eggs. Everything seems okay so far. I will post a pic of my rearing tank when i get that off scraps of paper and into reality...

Colin

Rinaldi · 01/19/2002, 11:08 AM

I've often used Blue damsels to cycle octopus tanks and then left them in there. The Octopuses never seem interested or able to catch the daring little buggers. On one ocassion years ago one did finally turn up missing ...

cephalopoder · 01/19/2002, 12:22 PM

Colin, I don't think you can post them out here.
Can you post them on your web site?
chris

OctoMonkey · 01/20/2002, 03:04 PM

I dont think i can do that on geocities. Better invest in a better site soon!
Next set of videos i do i will email a couple to you or anyone who wants them........

schmunkel98 · 01/20/2002, 06:12 PM

Please send me a copy of them Colin! Movies are great!

Mike

amcarrig · 01/21/2002, 11:33 AM

Hi Colin: E-mail that movie to me when you get it done. Can't wait to see your animals in action!

cephalopoder · 01/21/2002, 12:53 PM

If you goto www.tonmo.com Colin was nice enough to post two cuttle videos there for all to see.

amcarrig · 01/21/2002, 03:26 PM

That video is SO......FRIGGIN......COOL! Thanks for the link Chris!

Colin: I won't hold it against you for not sharing sooner....

schmunkel98 · 01/21/2002, 09:05 PM

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Now I really want to get my cuttlefish order in! I have had to call the distributor myself to check up on whether or not my LFS has ordred them. It has been four days since I told my LFS that their own distributor carries cuttlefish, and they still havne't ordered them! I'm not sure what else to do to get them to order except try to ask another store to do it. There is a Petland near me, but I'm not sure if they would order from another distributor that isn't on their list. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask.

Mike

www.schmunkel.0catch.com

OctoMonkey · 01/22/2002, 01:17 PM

Annick, first off, I only recently figured out i could send those videos by email. So dont think i was keeping it a secret!

Second, dont worry. I'll make sure I can come up with some sexy dance and email it to you or something

Chris,
Any chance some of the scientific places in the us would send eggs rather than young uns????????????

cephalopoder · 01/22/2002, 01:53 PM

Colin
I have actually been talking to Richard Stride about importing cuttle eggs this spring. I have a local dealer that has a import licence that is willing to work with me and order some cuttle eggs. As things progress I will keep you all posted. If you want some information colin email me and I will give you his contact info if you don't allready have it.
chris

schmunkel98 · 01/22/2002, 02:00 PM

I now have two different LFS's trying to get me some cuttlefish. I have almost given up on Dallas North Aquarium, and when I asked Saltwarer Paradise about it they said they had ordered them before! Hopefully one of these two will come through for me with some cuttles, but if not then I will return to looking for other methods of getting them. Colin, keep those videos coming! They were both great to watch.

Mike

www.schmunkel.0catch.com

OctoMonkey · 01/22/2002, 03:02 PM

Thanks Chris
It was Richard who i bought my cuttles from. He was excellant to deal with. I still stay in regular contact with him.

In fact, when i opened my bag of "five" cuttles he had left a tongue in cheek note saying something like "oops, i cant count!" and there were seven in the bag!!!

Richard has the packing and shipping down perfect. I dont see any reason as to why eggs in the post wouldnt work....

I have also recently come across another guy over here who also deals with cuttles from time to time. He is due more eggs in March / April. This guy is only about 50 miles from me. Richard is the opposite end of the UK (probably about 450 miles). However, Keith hasnt exported to the US before whereas Richard has. Both are great guys!

amcarrig · 01/23/2002, 06:57 AM

OK Colin. I forgive you only due to your lack of technological knowledge about your camera. Have you figured out the self-portrait thing without the picture being upside down? Make sure you're wearing those "tank shorts" when making movies. :-)

schmunkel98 · 01/27/2002, 04:34 PM

This is just a quick update for everyone. I will be getting my cuttlefish next week for sure, and I can't wait! Ok, go about your business now.

Mike,

www.schmunkel.0catch.com

OctoMonkey · 01/28/2002, 01:44 PM

just for interest........
2 new videos at tonmo. I managed to make the pic size bigger and easier to see this time............. em, er thats it.....

cephalopoder · 01/28/2002, 01:56 PM

Mike
Your not going to put the cuttles in the same tank as your octos are you?

amcarrig · 01/28/2002, 02:06 PM

Very very cool Colin.

schmunkel98 · 01/28/2002, 02:45 PM

Dooh, I forgot to mention this. I found octo corpses a few nights ago. I hadn't seen them in about two weeks, and I suspected the worst. I had plenty of food in there for them and my levels are great. I think the damsels might have stressed or attacked them since they weren't that big. The corpses I pulled out were about 2 inches in the body section. I guess they weren't eating enough because I thought they would have been much bigger. I was going to empty out my 55 gallon for them and put my cuttles in the big tank, but now I will just keep my 55 gallon a freshwater and prep the 135. If I keep octos again I'm going to make it a point to not have any other animals in there besides the ones I'm feeding them that night. The cuttlefish are active enough that they should clean up on the damsels and shrimp according to Colin.

Mike

www.schmunkel.0catch.com

cephalopoder · 01/28/2002, 02:52 PM

Sorry to hear that Mike. Have you checked your water for copper?

schmunkel98 · 01/28/2002, 03:04 PM

No, actually I haven't checked for copper, but I only use RO/DI water in the tank, and I have no copper parts in the system. How would I get this checked? Take a water sample to my LFS to have in analyzed?

Mike

www.schmunkel.0catch.com

cephalopoder · 01/28/2002, 03:11 PM

If you use ro/di you should be all set unless its time for a ro filter change. I thought I read one of your posts though that said you toped off tith tap water, I may be wrong. You can buy a copper test kit and do it yourself. I use aquarium systems fast tests. I just think its strange that both octos died so soon. I would hate to see something happen to your cuttles. They are more delicate than octos in a lot of ways.
chris

kelhuffman · 01/28/2002, 03:16 PM

Without stating the obvious, octos are very nervous and intelligent creatures and will be highly stressed when shipped. Next time you might want to refrain from zapping them with flash photography when you first acclimate them and every time they come out exploring their new environment. FWIW.

schmunkel98 · 01/28/2002, 03:21 PM

I have topped off with tap water on occasion, but usually it's when I can't get to the store to get the purified water. I have a water purifier on the faucet that I use that claims to remove 99.9% of metals and such. Hopefully this helps for the few times I use it. I thought about getting a RO/DI system myself, but I'm not sure which is a good brand and I know the cost is a little high. Any ideas? I really think the octos were stressed and just not eating as much toward the end. I should have totally removed the damsels and maybe even the shrimp. The shrimp were dragging the corpses around in the sand, otherwise I never would have found them.

Mike

www.schmunkel.0catch.com

01/19/2002, 09:20 AM	#27
OctoMonkey Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Larkhall, Scotland Posts: 694	Mike/Chris I have some short (15 seconds) MPG of me feeding the cuttles dead shrimp and stuff. Is it possible to upload them onto this site???? On another note. I can now see developments within my briareus eggs. Everything seems okay so far. I will post a pic of my rearing tank when i get that off scraps of paper and into reality... Colin __________________ ...and the Earth died screaming, while I lay dreaming.

01/19/2002, 12:22 PM	#29
cephalopoder Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NH Posts: 898	Colin, I don't think you can post them out here. Can you post them on your web site? chris __________________ Master the food chain and you can rear anything.

01/20/2002, 03:04 PM	#30
OctoMonkey Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Larkhall, Scotland Posts: 694	I dont think i can do that on geocities. Better invest in a better site soon! Next set of videos i do i will email a couple to you or anyone who wants them........ __________________ ...and the Earth died screaming, while I lay dreaming.

01/21/2002, 11:33 AM	#32
amcarrig Allons-y! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: CT Posts: 2,909	Hi Colin: E-mail that movie to me when you get it done. Can't wait to see your animals in action! __________________ The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

01/21/2002, 12:53 PM	#33
cephalopoder Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NH Posts: 898	If you goto www.tonmo.com Colin was nice enough to post two cuttle videos there for all to see. __________________ Master the food chain and you can rear anything.

01/17/2002, 09:44 PM	#26
schmunkel98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 254	Ahh, so I'm not the only one having a hard time getting cuttles for their home aquarium. Let me know where you get yours from when you do in case my LFS fails to deliver. Anyway, I think I'm going to wait a week or so until I hear back about if I can get the cuttles or not. If I can then great, but if I can't then I will double my efforts with the octopuses. Thanks for the feeding tips. Do you know of anyone out there that actually has shots on a web site of an octopus getting fed? Other than Jimbo Louis and Colin, I haven't seen many sites out there. Mike www.schmunkel.0catch.com

01/19/2002, 11:08 AM	#28
Rinaldi Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: South Riding, Virginia Posts: 335	I've often used Blue damsels to cycle octopus tanks and then left them in there. The Octopuses never seem interested or able to catch the daring little buggers. On one ocassion years ago one did finally turn up missing ...

01/20/2002, 06:12 PM	#31
schmunkel98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 254	Please send me a copy of them Colin! Movies are great! Mike

01/21/2002, 03:26 PM	#34
amcarrig Allons-y! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: CT Posts: 2,909	That video is SO......FRIGGIN......COOL! Thanks for the link Chris! Colin: I won't hold it against you for not sharing sooner.... __________________ The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

01/21/2002, 09:05 PM	#35
schmunkel98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 254	AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Now I really want to get my cuttlefish order in! I have had to call the distributor myself to check up on whether or not my LFS has ordred them. It has been four days since I told my LFS that their own distributor carries cuttlefish, and they still havne't ordered them! I'm not sure what else to do to get them to order except try to ask another store to do it. There is a Petland near me, but I'm not sure if they would order from another distributor that isn't on their list. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask. Mike www.schmunkel.0catch.com

01/22/2002, 01:17 PM	#36
OctoMonkey Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Larkhall, Scotland Posts: 694	Annick, first off, I only recently figured out i could send those videos by email. So dont think i was keeping it a secret! Second, dont worry. I'll make sure I can come up with some sexy dance and email it to you or something Chris, Any chance some of the scientific places in the us would send eggs rather than young uns???????????? __________________ ...and the Earth died screaming, while I lay dreaming.

01/22/2002, 01:53 PM	#37
cephalopoder Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NH Posts: 898	Colin I have actually been talking to Richard Stride about importing cuttle eggs this spring. I have a local dealer that has a import licence that is willing to work with me and order some cuttle eggs. As things progress I will keep you all posted. If you want some information colin email me and I will give you his contact info if you don't allready have it. chris __________________ Master the food chain and you can rear anything.

01/22/2002, 02:00 PM	#38
schmunkel98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 254	I now have two different LFS's trying to get me some cuttlefish. I have almost given up on Dallas North Aquarium, and when I asked Saltwarer Paradise about it they said they had ordered them before! Hopefully one of these two will come through for me with some cuttles, but if not then I will return to looking for other methods of getting them. Colin, keep those videos coming! They were both great to watch. Mike www.schmunkel.0catch.com

01/22/2002, 03:02 PM	#39
OctoMonkey Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Larkhall, Scotland Posts: 694	Thanks Chris It was Richard who i bought my cuttles from. He was excellant to deal with. I still stay in regular contact with him. In fact, when i opened my bag of "five" cuttles he had left a tongue in cheek note saying something like "oops, i cant count!" and there were seven in the bag!!! Richard has the packing and shipping down perfect. I dont see any reason as to why eggs in the post wouldnt work.... I have also recently come across another guy over here who also deals with cuttles from time to time. He is due more eggs in March / April. This guy is only about 50 miles from me. Richard is the opposite end of the UK (probably about 450 miles). However, Keith hasnt exported to the US before whereas Richard has. Both are great guys! __________________ ...and the Earth died screaming, while I lay dreaming.

01/23/2002, 06:57 AM	#40
amcarrig Allons-y! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: CT Posts: 2,909	OK Colin. I forgive you only due to your lack of technological knowledge about your camera. Have you figured out the self-portrait thing without the picture being upside down? Make sure you're wearing those "tank shorts" when making movies. :-) __________________ The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

01/27/2002, 04:34 PM	#41
schmunkel98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 254	This is just a quick update for everyone. I will be getting my cuttlefish next week for sure, and I can't wait! Ok, go about your business now. Mike, www.schmunkel.0catch.com

01/28/2002, 01:44 PM	#42
OctoMonkey Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Larkhall, Scotland Posts: 694	just for interest........ 2 new videos at tonmo. I managed to make the pic size bigger and easier to see this time............. em, er thats it..... __________________ ...and the Earth died screaming, while I lay dreaming.

01/28/2002, 01:56 PM	#43
cephalopoder Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NH Posts: 898	Mike Your not going to put the cuttles in the same tank as your octos are you? __________________ Master the food chain and you can rear anything.

01/28/2002, 02:06 PM	#44
amcarrig Allons-y! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: CT Posts: 2,909	Very very cool Colin. __________________ The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

01/28/2002, 02:45 PM	#45
schmunkel98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 254	Dooh, I forgot to mention this. I found octo corpses a few nights ago. I hadn't seen them in about two weeks, and I suspected the worst. I had plenty of food in there for them and my levels are great. I think the damsels might have stressed or attacked them since they weren't that big. The corpses I pulled out were about 2 inches in the body section. I guess they weren't eating enough because I thought they would have been much bigger. I was going to empty out my 55 gallon for them and put my cuttles in the big tank, but now I will just keep my 55 gallon a freshwater and prep the 135. If I keep octos again I'm going to make it a point to not have any other animals in there besides the ones I'm feeding them that night. The cuttlefish are active enough that they should clean up on the damsels and shrimp according to Colin. Mike www.schmunkel.0catch.com

01/28/2002, 02:52 PM	#46
cephalopoder Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NH Posts: 898	Sorry to hear that Mike. Have you checked your water for copper? __________________ Master the food chain and you can rear anything.

01/28/2002, 03:04 PM	#47
schmunkel98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 254	No, actually I haven't checked for copper, but I only use RO/DI water in the tank, and I have no copper parts in the system. How would I get this checked? Take a water sample to my LFS to have in analyzed? Mike www.schmunkel.0catch.com

01/28/2002, 03:11 PM	#48
cephalopoder Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NH Posts: 898	If you use ro/di you should be all set unless its time for a ro filter change. I thought I read one of your posts though that said you toped off tith tap water, I may be wrong. You can buy a copper test kit and do it yourself. I use aquarium systems fast tests. I just think its strange that both octos died so soon. I would hate to see something happen to your cuttles. They are more delicate than octos in a lot of ways. chris __________________ Master the food chain and you can rear anything.

01/28/2002, 03:16 PM	#49
kelhuffman Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Belmont, CA Posts: 535	flash photography Without stating the obvious, octos are very nervous and intelligent creatures and will be highly stressed when shipped. Next time you might want to refrain from zapping them with flash photography when you first acclimate them and every time they come out exploring their new environment. FWIW.

01/28/2002, 03:21 PM	#50
schmunkel98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 254	I have topped off with tap water on occasion, but usually it's when I can't get to the store to get the purified water. I have a water purifier on the faucet that I use that claims to remove 99.9% of metals and such. Hopefully this helps for the few times I use it. I thought about getting a RO/DI system myself, but I'm not sure which is a good brand and I know the cost is a little high. Any ideas? I really think the octos were stressed and just not eating as much toward the end. I should have totally removed the damsels and maybe even the shrimp. The shrimp were dragging the corpses around in the sand, otherwise I never would have found them. Mike www.schmunkel.0catch.com