Nautilus

[baudi]

g'day all,

this is my first post so be nice. I notice around the traps this weekend that a number of re-sellers have Nautilus currently in stock. An amazing cephalopod and i only see them in stock rarely... I thought it might be helpful for anyone with experience keeping these guys to offer their thoughts so those of us who think about or have purchased one know what to look out for..

I have one, i was worried about how it would handle issues like wave maker and rocks as i noticed that at one store they had emptied all rock and corals out of their showtank to accomodate and display Nauts. At Sentosa aquarium i notice the Nautilus happily bouncing around and hanging onto the rock. So, rock shouldn't be a problem right ?

Anyway, there's the start of the thread. Over to you...

[finbir]

g'day all,

this is my first post so be nice. I notice around the traps this weekend that a number of re-sellers have Nautilus currently in stock. An amazing cephalopod and i only see them in stock rarely... I thought it might be helpful for anyone with experience keeping these guys to offer their thoughts so those of us who think about or have purchased one know what to look out for..

I have one, i was worried about how it would handle issues like wave maker and rocks as i noticed that at one store they had emptied all rock and corals out of their showtank to accomodate and display Nauts. At Sentosa aquarium i notice the Nautilus happily bouncing around and hanging onto the rock. So, rock shouldn't be a problem right ?

Anyway, there's the start of the thread. Over to you...

Hi there,

1st n foremost it needs a pretty lower temp than corals like that of the imported Maine lobsters. They do well on tiny squids (chopped or whole) offered via a satay stick as well as crabs n prererably fresh or live prawns. In the tank they tend to get stuck among the display rocks hence a bare tank save for a central column is ideal. N be prepared to hear them plonking against the glass sides (hopefully ur tank's glass is thick enough or else.....).

Most times they just hang around near the surface n actinic lighting is the way to go.

Don't keep them with fish or inverts.

Regards,

Finbir.

[yikai]

never see in the trade before. But what i heard is that they prefer cooler water and dimly lit waters. Hmm.... is it like rare or endangered? lol. Sentosa have alot. They very blur one. swim swim will knock everything, so if u want rockwork, make sure its firm. But prefer not to put rocks bah, give them more swimming space

[nwyk153]

are they really allowed to keep as pets?

[yikai]

that was what i tought too. arent they like some rare endangered thingy. how come can keep as pets? O.O

[Solo77]

go to pasir ris farm and you might still be able to see .........

[Terryz_]

Not a expert but from my knowledge.. They need cool water and dimly lit tank... So actinic or moonlight will do... A high tank is preferred.. They need space to float around... Normal hobbyist will not have enough space to have a big tank just for them.. So just leave them to the sea and public aquarium... And also the water pressure is different and they might not survive long in captivity or even in public aquarium..

[iskay]

Saw a number of this beautiful creatures on display in an LFS in Pasir Ris. Sadly, Also saw a number of empty shells on display. seems like the survival rate is near zero. They are from the deep and comes to reef level to feed at night. I don't think they belong to the home aquarium. Leave them alone. Maybe endangered too.

[baudi]

Nautilus is still going. what 2 or 3 weeks on. certainly from before CNY to now. But, I dont think he is too happy and oddly, I had to relocate my chocolate chip starfish down to the sump (solitary confinement) as it was going after the nautilus, basically trying to eat its face off. I caught it just in time

[foocha]

Nautilus is still going. what 2 or 3 weeks on. certainly from before CNY to now. But, I dont think he is too happy and oddly, I had to relocate my chocolate chip starfish down to the sump (solitary confinement) as it was going after the nautilus, basically trying to eat its face off. I caught it just in time

saw the nautilus at pacific reef.... 2nd time i seen it at the shop... sad to say also noticed alot of empty shells at right side of their counter.... asked and was told that many do not survive the trip due to their sensitive requirements.

pretty exotic crustacean to keep i guess but really needs cold water!! 23-25 for it to be healthly.. plus cannot keep any fish that is equal or smaller in size.. its like seahorse.. need special conditions...

hows yours? is it eating from satay sticks?? how big is your tank btw?

[yikai]

saw the nautilus at pacific reef.... 2nd time i seen it at the shop... sad to say also noticed alot of empty shells at right side of their counter.... asked and was told that many do not survive the trip due to their sensitive requirements.

pretty exotic crustacean to keep i guess but really needs cold water!! 23-25 for it to be healthly.. plus cannot keep any fish that is equal or smaller in size.. its like seahorse.. need special conditions...

hows yours? is it eating from satay sticks?? how big is your tank btw?

i dun think a nautilus is a crustacean? O.o most probably a cephalopod. haha do correct me if im wrong.

[iskay]

i dun think a nautilus is a crustacean? O.o most probably a cephalopod. haha do correct me if im wrong.

Nautili are cephalopods. cousins of octopi and cuttlefishes.

[baudi]

saw the nautilus at pacific reef.... 2nd time i seen it at the shop... sad to say also noticed alot of empty shells at right side of their counter.... asked and was told that many do not survive the trip due to their sensitive requirements.

pretty exotic crustacean to keep i guess but really needs cold water!! 23-25 for it to be healthly.. plus cannot keep any fish that is equal or smaller in size.. its like seahorse.. need special conditions...

hows yours? is it eating from satay sticks?? how big is your tank btw?

Hi

my tank is about 1,200 liters. 6 ft x 3ft, 2 & a half feet. I have my chiller set to its bare minium which is 24 but because of the noise the chiller only runs about 15 hrs a day (on and off as rqd0 so the tank is averaging about 25.5 degree's. Too warm i fear for nautilus. Very inactive during the day when lights are on - tends to hide in a dark corner, more active at night when moonlights active and early morning - no tank lights.

I have been alternating foods - bits of prawn and (easier) cooked white bait (cold storage $2 a packet) and all the fish like it lol, especially the unicorn fish. No satay sticks. I let it hand feed and it is quite content too - those weird tentacle things are a bit sticky. it only eats a little and generally i can only get it to feed about once every 10 days.

Thanks for the interest

baudi

[FuEl]

Nautilus are nocturnal, undergoing vertical diurnal migration in the wild. In the day the rest on the seafloor to escape predators and during the night they rise up to the shallows to feed. They handle changes in pressure very readily due to the unique structure of their spiralled shell. To view them at night, install some lights with infra-red spectrum. These lights should not be visible to the animal. Such bulbs are commonly used to observe nocturnal reptiles/amphibians.

[hammy]

Hi

my tank is about 1,200 liters. 6 ft x 3ft, 2 & a half feet. I have my chiller set to its bare minium which is 24 but because of the noise the chiller only runs about 15 hrs a day (on and off as rqd0 so the tank is averaging about 25.5 degree's. Too warm i fear for nautilus. Very inactive during the day when lights are on - tends to hide in a dark corner, more active at night when moonlights active and early morning - no tank lights.

I have been alternating foods - bits of prawn and (easier) cooked white bait (cold storage $2 a packet) and all the fish like it lol, especially the unicorn fish. No satay sticks. I let it hand feed and it is quite content too - those weird tentacle things are a bit sticky. it only eats a little and generally i can only get it to feed about once every 10 days.

Thanks for the interest

baudi

how long have u been keeping the nautilus?

[baudi]

Nautilus are nocturnal, undergoing vertical diurnal migration in the wild. In the day the rest on the seafloor to escape predators and during the night they rise up to the shallows to feed. They handle changes in pressure very readily due to the unique structure of their spiralled shell. To view them at night, install some lights with infra-red spectrum. These lights should not be visible to the animal. Such bulbs are commonly used to observe nocturnal reptiles/amphibians.

4 weeks