A 9-year-old Oklahoma boy's unconventional pet choice of adopting an octopus he named Terrance has gone viral on TikTok.
Cal Clifford's parents said their son wanted an octopus as a pet more than anything else in the world since he was a toddler, according to the Associated Press.
While they were trying to make the boy's dream come true with a toy octopus, young Cal Clifford kept begging for the real thing.
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In October 2023, the boy's father, Cameron Clifford, a dentist in Edmond, Oklahoma, decided to make his son's dream come true.
After some research at an aquarium store, I purchased a California two-spotted octopus, also known as a “Bimac.” The family named him Terrence (or so they thought).
This undated photo shows Terrence, a pet octopus adopted by young Cal Clifford at his home in Edmond, Oklahoma. Terrence currently has over 400,000 followers on TikTok. (Cameron Clifford, Associated Press)
Cameron Clifford told The Associated Press that it was “magical” watching her son cuddle his pets, adding that her son “was fascinated by the natural world and marine biology from an early age.”
Cameron Clifford started documenting the adventures of Terrence the Octopus on TikTok, posting under the account “doctoktopus.”
As of Tuesday, April 16th, the account has over 425,000 followers.
A video posted in early March shows Cal Clifford breaking down in tears after learning his parents had bought an aquarium and filter for their pet octopus.
Like other octopus species, the California two-spot octopus can change color, but is naturally mottled brown.
Shortly after adopting Terence, the Clifford family learned that their pet was actually female.
Terence laid 50 eggs, which hatched after a few weeks, even though his family thought they were infertile.
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The pet's name was not changed.
After the eggs hatched, the Cliffords suddenly became “parents” to dozens of baby California two-spotted octopuses — they named them Rocket Larry, Squid Cuddy, and Swim Shady. , J.C., and C. Yonce, the Associated Press reported.
The family wants to move the baby octopus to an aquarium or research facility, and is asking for help in contacting the facility and naming the baby on TikTok.
An undated photo posted by Cameron Clifford on TikTok shows a baby octopus hatched from the family's pet octopus, Terrence. Initially, Terence was thought to be a boy until he laid an egg. (Cameron Clifford, Associated Press)
“Aside from the physical, financial, and mental requirements of owning a species like a bimack, you learn a lot about yourself in the process,” Cameron Clifford told his TikTok followers. .
A lot of things have gone wrong since we hired Terrence.
“There are always going to be valves and seals that don't close completely, and storm-resistant carpets aren't built to withstand gallons of salt water. It turns out that salt water and electricity don't always mix well,” says Cameron Clifford. said.
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“You'll learn new things, meet amazing people and appreciate wildlife,” he added.
“But most of all, you get to love a not-so-small octopus like Terrence.”
Terence, the California two-spotted octopus, has a lifespan of about a year and can live up to two individuals in captivity.
Octopuses usually die after laying eggs, but Terence survived for four months, Cameron Clifford told The Associated Press.
Clifford family. Cal Clifford, 9, second from the left, has always been interested in marine biology, said his father, Cameron Clifford, who is farthest left. On TikTok, his father documents the adventures of Terrence the Octopus. (Cameron Clifford, Associated Press)
The Cliffords said on TikTok that they haven't ruled out keeping one of Terrence's babies as a pet.
The family is currently working on an upgraded tank that will be 30 gallons larger than the current 60-gallon tank.
The California Two-Spot Octopus is found in the Pacific Ocean from Northern California to Baja California, Mexico, according to the California Sea Grant website at the University of California, San Diego.
It grows to about 18 inches in length and is “a small species compared to its counterpart,” the website says.
Like other octopus species, the California two-spot octopus can change color, but is naturally mottled brown.
Unlike other octopuses, the California Two-Spot Octopus “has two bright blue spots on each side of its body that resemble eyes,” California Sea Grant said.
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These spots are thought to be a way for the octopus to protect itself from natural predators.
Pet octopuses are “one of the most fascinating and rewarding marine creatures you can keep in a home aquarium,” said Nancy King of Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine.
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But they require expensive food and have a “tragically short” lifespan, she says.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Clifford family for additional comment and updates.
For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
Christine Rousselle is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.