But that was just the first development in a story that unfolded in Edmond, Oklahoma and captivated thousands of people on social media. Clifford said the biggest surprise actually came one night in February. That's when he picked up one of the eggs, which he had long thought was unfertilized, and accidentally broke it. What he thought was “some strange glob of liquid” came out and he returned to the tank.
After a few seconds, the mass started swimming. It was a smaller version of Terence.
“I just screamed my wife's name,” Clifford, 36, told The Washington Post. “That's when the stress started because we felt an immense responsibility to take care of these babies.”
Over the next week, the Cliffords tried to capture the hatchlings. Suddenly, the family was tasked with caring for 50 baby Californian two-spotted octopuses, also known as bimacks.
The mission to keep them alive is complex, time-consuming and expensive. Clifford estimates that the specialized tanks and other equipment his family purchased cost his family as much as a used car.
But it's also a blessing, as a TikTok video documenting the ups and downs of caring for an octopus has amassed millions of viewers and support from across the country, with one expert calling it “nothing short of amazing.” said Clifford, a highly acclaimed dentist.
“I think this is something that a lot of people need because there's a lot of bad news in the world,” Clifford said. But he was quick to add a caveat. “Raising an octopus is hard work. It's a lot of work and it's expensive. It's wet. So if you're not ready to go all the way, you shouldn't do it.”
how The Cliffords' journey to owning approximately 90 percent of all octopuses in Oklahoma began with their son's love of marine biology, especially octopuses. Cal has wanted a pet octopus for years, even though he lives far from the ocean. Since his age of 2, Cal has requested octopus-themed parties and dressed up as an animal for Halloween.
By the time Cal turned 8, it was clear this was more than just a phase, Clifford said. So one day, Clifford stopped by a local aquarium store and asked if he could buy an octopus.
it was, TechnicallyClifford recalled an employee telling him it wasn't suitable for a first pet.
He said Cal's face lit up when Clifford mentioned their dinner conversation. When Clifford shared the video of Cal's reaction with loved ones, they told him that if he didn't comply, he “would be a terrible father.”
Clifford took the hint and bought a used 60-gallon tank in August. On Cal's birthday in October, an octopus swimming in a bag of water arrived in the mail.
Without hesitation, Cal declares that the octopus will be named Terrence, after the mischievous character from Wayside School. Children's book series.
Terence quickly became a beloved member of the Clifford family. That's why she was shocked when she saw the eggs in the tank in December. Octopuses usually die soon after laying eggs.
After consulting with experts, Clifford thought that the eggs might not have been fertilized because Terence (now sometimes called Terry) had not been around a male for several weeks. But in February, when Clifford saw an egg dislodged from Terence's burrow and decided to take a closer look, baby number one, Pearl, was born.
Over the next few days, 49 more babies were born, including Chaunce, Jay Cee, Swim Shady, Squid Cuddy, Bill Nye the octopus, and Champ, named by Clifford's friend who is undergoing cancer treatment.
As it turned out, it was not a case of “diprotozoal conception” as Clifford had said, citing Terence's breed. Found off the coast of California, Terence mated before being captured by divers. The delay in birth was a product of the octopus' ability to withhold spawning until it felt safe.
Clifford said caring for 51 octopuses would be daunting. But luckily, he added, he's not alone. Tim Title, 80, a retired radiologist, has thousands of geckos, dozens of seahorses, dozens of venomous lizards, and two pet octopuses, which have been a big help. There is. The two first met in January, when Tittle learned that the Cliffords were the only private Taco owners in Oklahoma, and Tittle said they have been supporting each other ever since. said.
Clifford said Title was the first person she called the night she found baby Pearl. Soon, they were poring over books and brainstorming ways to get the right food and containers for their newly hatched chicks.
Many of the baby octopuses initially died on the way to Tittle's home, especially after a water leak wreaked havoc on Clifford's home. But Title said they learned a lot and “now it's a lot easier.”
Tittle owns a duplex, where he keeps most of his pets, and the remaining 23 octopuses currently live there. Babies are fed one daily serving of live tit shrimp sourced from the East Coast. To prevent cannibalism, each octopus is kept in its own plastic container. She will soon be moving into her new $10,000 180-gallon tank purchased by Title.
Raising sea creatures is expensive and time-consuming, but the “amazing” creatures are worth it, Title said.
“They're very smart,” he said. “Octopuses recognize people and can change color with the snap of a finger.”
Clifford and Title are now on a mission to find a good home for the octopus. Clifford also hired interns to help liaise with research institutes, aquariums and nature preserves. Although many people have volunteered to adopt the miniature terraces, Clifford said the babies will not be given to private owners. So far, some researchers and professors have expressed interest.
Paul Clarkson, director of breeding operations at California's Monterey Bay Aquarium, said it may be difficult to find an aquarium willing to take the baby. Bimacs don't necessarily have the wow factor associated with other breeds like the giant Pacific octopus. Still, he praised Clifford's efforts to find a place where the octopus could be properly cared for.
Clarkson admits to being skeptical of families trying to raise octopuses, but said it was “pretty remarkable” to see what the Cliffords were able to accomplish. This is especially true because young octopuses have a very high mortality rate.
While Mr Clarkson cautions that octopuses are probably not something that lives in most homes, he is glad that the Cliffords' journey has made more people aware of the mysterious octopus. He said he was thinking about it.
“I wouldn't be surprised if in 10 or 20 years some young marine biologist is saying, 'Oh yeah, it was Terence the Octopus that got me into this,'” Clarkson said. Ta. “It's like when I was a kid watching Jacques Cousteau videos.”
