It all started when his 9-year-old son wanted to own a pet.
It's not just a pet. octopus. Specifically, the California two-spotted octopus, also known as the Baymac.
So Cameron Clifford, 36, a dentist in rural Oklahoma, did what many fathers do: He called a local aquarium store and inquired about obtaining an octopus.
Not only did this phone call end up with 50 baby octopuses in his home, costing him thousands of dollars in water damage and other costs, but he also warmed the hearts of his nearly 400,000 followers. Little did he know about his son's TikTok story.
“I think a lot of people had crazy dreams like this when they were kids, but as they got older, they went away,” he says. “They also told the story of the kind of classic story of a father who decides to give his child a pet, and then naturally becomes the father who takes almost exclusive care of that pet. I think it's very relatable (other than the 9 year olds in this case).”
How did Oklahoma's father get an octopus?
Clifford said her son Cal has always had an inexplicable love for octopuses. Cal has asked for a pet octopus for every birthday, Christmas, and major holiday since he was two years old.
Clifford and his wife always thought this was a funny and adorable request, and they happily gave him the octopus toy. But they never thought that owning a pet octopus would be an achievable dream.
That's what Clifford was wondering until last summer, when he was driving by an aquarium store…Is it possible to keep an octopus as a pet? He's never seriously considered it. There wasn't. So he called. As it turns out, yes.
At dinner that night, Clifford shared what he learned with his family, thinking it would spark a fun but harmless conversation. Cal immediately started crying.
“His ultimate dream, his cloud nine, the biggest thing that could ever happen in his life had just become possible, and he was just devastated,” Clifford recalled. “Of course, all my friends and family, as you can probably imagine, said to me, 'Okay, now you have to get it for him. Just put it in front of him. You can’t just let it hang and turn around and flatten it.’ That dream.”
So Clifford spent the next few weeks documenting the father and son's preparations for a pet octopus they named Terrance. That meant not only making sure they had access to food for the octopus, but also researching, ordering and installing a suitable saltwater tank and water circulation system in their home. Clifford said he bought most of the materials second-hand on her Facebook Marketplace and expected the whole ordeal to cost him about $600 to $700.
he was wrong.
When Terence arrived, he was bigger than expected, which meant he needed a bigger tank. When Terrence's 50 surprise babies arrived, Clifford said, “Everything was off,” and she spent $300 a week on overnight feeding for the hatchlings. Not to mention the water damage to her home, which is still being repaired.
All told, Clifford estimates he's spent about $3,000 to $4,000 on tacos over the past year. “Don't keep an octopus as a pet unless you're willing to lose your sleep and your child's college funds at the same time,” he jokes.
The story of TikTok isn't just about the octopus and its eggs. It's a story about a father and son.
About two months after his arrival, Terence laid eggs, marking the end of his lifespan. As Clifford points out on TikTok, female bimuck octopuses typically have a lifespan of one to two years. Once they lay their eggs, they stop eating and caring for themselves and spend the rest of their lives guarding the burrow until the eggs hatch.
Experts assured Clifford that Terrence's eggs could not be fertilized, meaning they would never hatch. Clifford and his girlfriend's family took care of young Terence, raising her by hand so that she could follow nature and fulfill her ultimate purpose, even if it was all in vain.
But then all 50 of Terence's eggs hatched, much to Clifford's shock.
Clifford called local aquariums and research facilities and begged them to take the baby. They all declined. So he did the next logical thing. He turned to his TikTok to share videos on his private Instagram that he had previously posted only to his friends and family.
His account has exploded in popularity, and he is now in contact with major aquariums, universities, and research facilities across the country interested in releasing octopuses. He also solicited baby names on the Internet. “The smarter the better.'' His big favorite (manga? Inverteblet).
Although the experience had its challenges, he says it was worth it to see the joy it brought Cal and his 6-year-old son Lyle. It was also special to see the notoriously divisive space of the internet come out with near-unanimous support for him and his family as they navigate their tumultuous Octopus journey.
“Speaking of regrets, I have a lot,” he says. “I wish I hadn't opened the valve like that and dumped the dirty seawater all over the kids' white carpet. I regret that for sure. But overall, no, it was a really enjoyable experience. I Not just for me, but for my children.”
What's next for Octopapa?
Clifford said the baby octopus has not yet been rehomed and is living with a family friend and herpetologist named Dr. Tim. Typically, only 1 to 5 percent of Bymak babies survive to adulthood, Clifford said. After 2 months from hatching, 50% of Terence's baby is still alive. “Every scientist I talk to is always surprised by the fact that we were able to get such high yields in children's toilets.”
more:Snail slime for skin care blows up on TikTok – even dermatologists approve
Clifford said the ultimate goal is for TikTok followers across the country to be able to visit Terrence's children at their local aquarium once they find a new home.
“If you've been following the accounts, I'm sure it was such an amazing experience to go to the State Aquarium and see babies like Jaycee and Beyonce and Swim Shady and Squid Cady in person,” he says.
He also plans to return to his normal life, which was disrupted by the virus infection. The Cliffords have worked hard to keep their children from finding out how famous their family has become online. But now that news cameras have entered their home, it's even more difficult.
For Clifford, the well-being of children is always a top priority. That's something he and Terrence have in common.
“Of course, with this whole social media thing, you feel like you're missing out on bedtime because you're doing interviews. And of course, if you're like, 'Okay, I'm documenting that.' “I'm a great father, but I'm not putting my kids to bed right now.'' So I have to be careful about that, too,'' he says. “It was a little more wild than most experiences we have had, but my son loved it.”
more:Human dogs help hallucinations in schizophrenia: Why psychiatric service dogs are helpful but difficult to obtain.
And for those wondering: Yes, Terrence is somehow still alive.
“She's doing well. She's just living out the rest of her life by herself in a tank,” Clifford said. “My guesses about her have been consistently wrong, but she will probably die within the next few weeks.”
