Preparing for a Pet Octopus
When most people consider purchasing aquatic pets, octopuses are not always at the top of the list. But these under-exposed aquatic animals do, in fact, make very rewarding pets because of their intelligent and even playful nature. Octopuses are extremely intelligent animals that have specific requirements for proper care in a domestic setting. It is extremely important that anyone considering owning a pet octopus be prepared with the right environment and knows the steps that need to be taken to give your pet a healthy, fulfilling life.
One of the most important steps to being a proper pet owner is making sure that your veterinarian is knowledgeable about caring for the type of pet you desire to own. For more information about proper pet ownership contact your Austin vet clinic today.
Octopus Environments
Creating a mature environment is a crucial step that must occur before purchasing a pet octopus. Octopodes are sensitive to their environment, for this reason, their future tank must “mature” for a minimum of three months. This can be done by introducing star fish and small mollies to the salt water environment. Also, a pump with a powered filter is required to keep the water fresh and proper oxygen levels to keep an octopus healthy. Lack of oxygen will result in suffocation and death of your octopus. The water in the tank should also be free of heavy metals including copper, which is detrimental to the health of an octopus.
Because octopuses are the most intelligent invertebrates, they are highly skilled at escaping from their aquatic environments. Most of these escapes are motivated by a highly refined desire to hunt. Also, because of the absence of bones, octopi can wriggle through virtually any size opening and are intelligent enough to lift lids and escape. To curb their desire to hunt, it is recommended to feed octopuses live crustaceans and small fish for a healthy diet.
Finally, octopuses are typically nocturnal animals, so it is crucial to keep their environment dark even during daylight hours. Also, keeping your octopus entertained by providing them with challenges to get to their food will make for a happy pet.
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Keeping a pet octopus healthy can be a challenge without intensive care, and it should be noted that octopodes do not have extensive life spans. For more information on keeping a pet octopus, please contact your Austin vet clinic.