Octopus Care Guide: Tips for Keeping Your Octopus Healthy

Octopus keepers, rejoice! The octopus is a cephalopod that requires specific care to thrive. As such, they are a more challenging pet than some other popular options. However, with a little bit of research and planning you can easily take care of an octopus as a long-term pet. In general speaking, there are three types of octopuses: blue-eyed, brown-eyed and albino. Most captive octopuses are brown-eyed or blue-eyed. Albino octopuses are very rare and usually have white skin instead of red.

Blue-Eyed Octopus Care

Blue-eyed octopuses are the rarest of the three types. Most blue-eyed octopuses are albino, meaning they have white skin instead of the typical red color. Blue-eyed octopuses may be albino because they are hybrids between an octopus and a blue-ringed octopus. Blue-eyed octopuses are less common because they often have less desirable behaviors. As a result, they are often less popular as pets. Blue-eyed octopuses belong to a subspecies of octopus that lives in Indo-Pacific regions and ranges from Sri Lanka to Australia. Blue-eyed octopuses can grow to be about two inches long, though they are often smaller. Blue-eyed octopus care is quite similar to brown-eyed octopus care. Blue-eyed octopuses are often more active than brown-eyed octopus, but they are just as shy. Blue-eyed Octopuses are slightly more difficult to keep because their natural diet of crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans makes them a little more difficult to feed. Blue-eyed octopuses can be fed frozen, live and fresh foods. Blue-eyed octopuses are excellent eaters and can be fed frozen seafood such as shrimp, crab legs and other hard-shell seafood. Blue-eyed octopuses can also be fed live foods such as brine shrimp, blood worms, daphnia and fresh seafood such as clams, mussels and fish. Seafood should be chopped into very small pieces to prevent your octopus from inhaling it. Blue-eyed octopuses are sensitive to water quality, so make sure you keep their water clean. Blue-eyed octopus water should be kept clean and clear with no excess chlorine or other chemicals added. Proper water maintenance is essential for blue-eyed octopus health, so make sure you don't skip this step. Blue-eyed octopus care is similar to that of brown-eyed octopuses, but blue-eyed octopuses are slightly more difficult to care for.

Brown-Eyed Octopus Care

Brown-eyed octopuses belong to the same subspecies as blue-eyed octopuses, and they can be slightly more difficult to care for, too. Brown-eyed octopuses are slightly less common than blue-eyed octopuses, and they are usually albino. Brown-eyed octopuses are also less active than blue-eyed octopuses and are often much shyer. They also have a much coarser skin texture, which results in a slightly more challenging care experience. The brown-eyed subspecies of octopus is found primarily in Australia and Indonesia, though some brown-eyed octopus can occasionally be found in the Indo-Pacific regions. Brown-eyed octopuses are generally smaller than blue-eyed octopuses and are generally less active. There aren't many differences in brown-eyed octopus care, but keep in mind that brown-eyed octopuses are often much more timid. Brown-eyed octopuses can be a little more difficult to feed, so make sure you feed them frozen seafood, since they typically don't like to eat fresh foods. Brown-eyed octopuses are also sensitive to water quality, so make sure your water is clean and clear. Brown-eyed octopus water should be kept clean and clear with no excess chlorine or other chemicals added. Proper water maintenance is essential for brown-eyed octopus health, so make sure you don't skip this step.

Albino Octopus Care

Albino octopuses are also fairly uncommon, though they tend to be more active than brown-eyed or blue-eyed octopuses. Albino octopuses are almost always blue-eyed and are almost always albino. However, there have been reports of brown-eyed albino octopuses, so there isn't a clear pattern. The albino subspecies of octopus is found throughout the Indo-Pacific regions, so it is possible to keep one if you live in a region where it is found. Albino octopuses are often much more active than their other subspecies and tend to be much shyer, too. Albino octopuses should be kept in a separate tank from other octopuses because their sensitivity to water quality can be different from other octopuses. They should also be fed frozen seafood, since they typically don't like to eat fresh foods. Albino octopuses are slightly more sensitive to water quality than other subspecies of octopus, so be sure to keep your water clean. Albino octopus care is a little more difficult than that of other subspecies. They should be fed frozen seafood, since they typically don't like to eat fresh foods. Albino octopuses are slightly more sensitive to water quality than other subspecies of octopus, so be sure to keep your water clean. Water should be kept clean and clear with no excess chlorine or other chemicals added.

Final Words

This guide has provided an overview of octopus care and provided some tips on how to care for them. If you are ready to get your hands dirty, you should now have a better idea of how to care for an octopus. If you have any questions about how to care for an octopus, please feel free to contact your local aquarium supplier or a nearby university. If you are interested in getting a pet octopus, you will have to do some research on your own and prepare yourself for a little more work than most other pets. This care guide should help you get started. Octopus care is a learned skill and can be difficult to learn. If you are interested in keeping an octopus as a pet, prepare yourself for a challenging experience. Despite the challenges octopus care poses, this species is fascinating to keep and can make a great addition to any aquarium.