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Anonymous
So, /an/, I'm somewhat of a n00b pet ownership-wise, but I know quite a bit about my beloved octopuses, and was wondering, what species would you recommend as a household pet?

Pic related in that its an octopus. No, I'm not buying a greater blue-ringed.
>> Anonymous
None. They're depressing to keep because of their 2 year lifespan and high intelligence.
>> Anonymous
>>344150
I like the high intelligence, though. And so does my psuedo-partner, and since they're the smartest animal I can legally own, I'd like to buy one.

For the record, I was thinking California Two-Spot.
>> Anonymous
$500 and a dead octopus from now don't say we didn't warn you.
>> Anonymous
>>344152
Yeah, I am quite worried about me accidently killing it via fucking up the water level, but I'm quite assured that my unbelievable panic will cause me to check the water concentrations every waking moment.
>> Anonymous
>>344153
you are going to get whatever assorted octopus the store can get for you. that is all.

the only octopus I've ever seen on a wholesale list that was identified by species was a blue ring, which pop up rather frequently actually.

They will probably be O. vulgaris or the bimac though so you got a 50/50 shot.

Everything else is a $20-$70 wholesale price "octopus"
>> Anonymous
>>344157
Can't I ask the store to get me one in paticular, or will they just say 'buy it or shove off'?
>> Anonymous
>>344158
A store can only order what's on their wholesale lists. We order about $4,000 worth of wholesale fish and coral (~12K retail) a week from 4 or 5 of the best suppliers in the world, and all I ever see is blue ring, "octopus" and very rarely mimic or zebra, but you can't afford those.
The best you could do is have them order one from a wholeseller that specializes in gulf species, which would probably have vulgaris, versus a wholeseller from the west coast which probably have bimacs.

If the store had a huge amount of pull with a rep at a wholeseller they might be able to get him to track you down excatly what you want, but be expected to pay top dollar for it, and wholesale reps don't really give a shit anyway.

Your best bet is to find a specialty dealer on the internet, though then you are looking at $60 plus overnight shipping

I suggest lurking/asking here

http://www.tonmo.com/

http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6194&page=36

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=38

did I mention the $500 start up?
>> Anonymous
>>344161
I do lurk on tonmo, btw.
And yeah, I am prepared to pay top dollar. This octopus is probably replacing my next car, so, yeah. Maybe a cheap one first off, to make sure the water concentrations are right for the expensive one.
>> Anonymous
>>344164
start a saltwater tank, make sure you can lock it down tight, then keep some damsels or a shrimp alive for a few weeks while you learn about parameters and water chemistry, then get your octopus, as a bonus you can watch him eat the previous inhabitants.

You sure you don't want a sugar glider? or a corgi? fox maybe?

I really want this to work out for you op, but my experiance tells me you won't get very far, I have to handle somebody asking for octos or sea horses every other day, and all I have to do is the following:

"So you want to spend the time and money to set up a saltwater tank?"
"Yes."
"For a pair of seahorses/octopus?"
"Duh what have we been talking about?"
"And in doing so you will not be able to keep any of this in that tank."
*I make a wide sweeping gesture across the 1000s of gallons of saltwater fish in our store*
"Oh, uhmm, how much was that set-up costing?"
"$350 dollars sir in all."
"And not even a Nemo? Really?"
"Yes sir, really."

A pair of seahorses or octopus is no match for Nemo, Dorie, or a Lubbucks Fairy Wrasse.
As a second little side tank sure, but for your first, it doesn't happen often.
>> Anonymous
>>344170
I love octopuses so much more so than any other creature, that for the first 'flirt' my partner did for me, she changed her handle from Spiritwolf to Spiritoctopus. Should say something about how prepared I am to make sure this works.
>> Anonymous
'Loving' something and having someone change their screen-name doesn't count for shit and says absolutely nothing as to how prepared you are.

And don't buy a mimic octopus or wunderpus. They've been caught for the pet trade in huge numbers since being discovered despite the fact that even public aquariums struggle to keep them alive. It boils down to paying a large sum of money to watch an at-risk species quickly die.
>> Anonymous
>This octopus is probably replacing my next car, so, yeah

Unless you manage to somehow get a captive-bred hatchling from a lab supplier any octopus you get, even if you do know what you're doing and take great care of it, will most likely live less than a year at the very most.
>> Anonymous
>>344182
Hence why I was thinking Two-spot, not Mimic. I'm well aware everyone wants a mimic, and, even if they keep them alive, they have a short lifespan and won't do any mimicry for you.