Having an octopus as a pet is not child’s play. An Octopus can cost you around $20 to $1000 depending on the color, age, and health of the Octopus.
Therefore, you must be available emotionally and physically, and you must also provide financial support.
As the owner and parent of the pet octopus, you should try to meet all of its needs.
How Much Does an Octopus Cost?
The average cost of an octopus can range from $20 to $1,000.
The initial cost of purchasing a pet octopus could be higher compared to the other regular animals. If money is an issue for you, you will have to think twice before buying an octopus.
On the other hand, if spending money is not a problem, then you need to understand the other important factors in raising an octopus and make a decision accordingly.
You must ensure that the Octopus is medically examined before purchasing. The exam and tests will also be added to the initial price.
Aquarium Cost
When you bring a pet octopus home, you need to make arrangements to give it a comfortable home. The aquarium or water tank of your pet octopus will be its home, so it is important that you build the aquarium according to the pet’s needs.
The octopus will require a good quality aquarium or water tank. If its shelter is not comfortable, the octopus will be restless all the time. Even if you build a very basic aquarium for the animal, you must have the necessary comfort.
This is a one-time cost, so you shouldn’t try to save money at the expense of your pet’s comfort. The cost of the shelter will depend on the type of shelter.
You can expect to spend anywhere between $200 to $1000 for the Octopus aquarium. A seventy-gallon glass aquarium can be purchased for $300.
The aquarium should be well cycled. You too must equip it well. The aquarium will require a few basic things, like live rocks, tunnels, and toys.
These are the additional costs that you will have to incur in addition to the cost of the aquarium. This should cost you around $200.
Cost Of Light And Heat Source
It is important to maintain the proper temperature and light cycle in an octopus aquarium. If this is not done, the pet can become stressed.
You just need to make sure that a constant warm temperature is maintained in the water tank. Your pet can get sick and unwell if you don’t maintain the proper temperature and light cycle.
Depending on the type and brand of light and heat sources, you can expect to spend $30 to $60.
Cost Of Accessories And Hiding Place
As an important accessory for your pet octopus’s aquarium, you will need to invest in good-quality tunnels. You also need to buy a hiding place for the octopus.
Cheap plastic materials that may have an adverse effect on the health of the octopus should be avoided. Similarly, toys that can be crushed or broken should also be avoided.
You should also provide an igloo-like structure for your pet octopus to hide in. This will make him feel safe. You can make one at home from an old plastic tub.
Depending on your choice of toys and hiding place, you can expect to spend around $50 to $250.
Food Cost
The biggest factor that will affect your monthly costs is pet octopus food. The type of food and the quality of the food that you feed your pet will have an impact on your monthly spending on the pet.
A domesticated octopus will feed primarily on good-quality seafood. You may also need to include various supplements to provide your pet with overall nutrition.
This is important because if the animal does not get all the appropriate nutrients in the right amount, its health will suffer, which will again be an additional cost to you. Therefore, be sure to provide all the necessary nutrients to your pet octopus.
The types of food you feed your pet will also affect the exact cost of the food you find per month. You should remember that the laxer you are with regard to the money that goes towards food costs, the less the amount of money that will go towards health care.
If your pet octopus is well-fed, he will not get sick as often. This will automatically reduce the amount of money you would have to spend on the vet and medication.
You will have a few options when it comes to feeding your octopus. You can choose between those options, depending on the availability of the items in your region and also on the price of the food.
You can expect to spend around $75 to $300 each month on octopus food.
Cost Of Medical Care
It is important to invest in the health of a companion animal. This is necessary because a sick animal is the breeding ground for many other diseases in the home. Your pet can spread the disease to other pets if it is not treated in time. This means danger for pets and also for family members.
You will have to take the Octopus to the vet for regular visits for its health. He will be able to guide you on the medications that the pet may need.
It is recommended that during the first year of domestication, you take great care of the octopus’s health.
You also need to be prepared for unexpected costs, such as a sudden illness or an accident of the Octopus.
Health care is provided at different costs in different areas. Therefore, the vet in your area could be more expensive than the vet in the nearby city.
You must calculate all of these costs upfront so you don’t have any problems later. Realizing that you can’t keep the animal and giving it up is never a good idea.
You must understand that caring for these animals will require special skills. You should ensure that the vet you see for your pet octopus has experience handling marine animals.
You must also be prepared to spend more money on their health than what you would have spent on other companion animals. It is believed that you should have an additional $1000 savings for your Octopus emergencies. Your pet may need an operation or surgery due to illness.
Other Costs
Although the main costs that you will encounter when raising your pet octopus have already been discussed, there will be some additional costs that your pet will have to bear. Most of these costs are one-time costs.
You will have to spend money to buy things like live rocks for the pet. You can expect to spend $100 to $250 on these costs. The cost will depend on the wear and tear and quality of the products.
To keep track of the costs that might be waiting for you, you should regularly check the various items in the pet’s tank. If you think something needs to be repaired or replaced, you should go ahead and do it.