Cal Clifford, a 9-year-old boy from Edmond, Oklahoma, had been dreaming of owning a pet octopus since he was a toddler. His family indulged his interest with toy versions of the eight-legged creature, but as Cal grew older, it became apparent that only a real octopus would satisfy his desire.
Cameron Clifford, Cal’s 36-year-old father and a dentist by profession, took it upon himself to research the possibility of getting an octopus as a pet.
He consulted with a local aquarium store, and soon enough, Terrance, a California two-spot octopus (also known as a bimac), became the newest member of the Clifford household, living in a watery enclosure in their home southwest of Oklahoma City.
Cameron expressed his support for his son’s unique interest, saying, “We really like to encourage our children’s interests. It’s magical to see a kid embrace their dreams and bring them to fruition. Cal has been infatuated with the natural world and with marine biology since he was very little.”
The father started sharing the story of Terrance the cephalopod on TikTok, narrating the tale using a faux British accent generated by the app. The saga quickly gained popularity, with hundreds of thousands of people following the updates.
However, the story took an unexpected turn when the Cliffords discovered that Terrance was actually a female octopus. She had laid around 50 eggs, which the family initially thought were unfertilized. Several weeks later, tiny, nearly transparent octopus babies began to hatch, and the Cliffords gave them creative names like Rocket Larry, Squid Cudi, Swim Shady, Jay-Sea, and Sea-Yoncé.
The heartwarming tale of Cal’s pet octopus and the surprising arrival of the baby octopuses has captivated people across social media, showcasing the incredible bond between a young boy and his fascinating marine companion.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.