Terrance, who they thought was male, was female. Cameron Clifford, 36, says he spent more than R$15,000 on animal care
A family of Oklahomain the United States, was surprised after her pet octopus, which she thought was male, having had 50 puppies at one time. According to patriarch Cameron Clifford, 36, it was necessary to find aquariums and lots of food to ensure the survival of the animals. In total, it was more than R$15 thousand.
The story begins on the birthday of Cameron’s eldest son, Cal, who has dreamed of having an octopus since he was three years old. When he was about to turn nine, in October 2023, his father contacted the local aquarium store and purchased a California double-spotted octopus as a gift.
“His biggest dream, the best thing that could happen in someone’s life, had just become a possibility and it collapsed,” Clifford said in an interview with the American news portal USAToday.
For the arrival of the animal, named Terrence, Cameron ordered a saltwater tank, a water recycling system and food supplies. However, when the octopus arrived, they realized that it was much larger than expected. Two months later, he started laying eggs.
Documenting every moment on a Tik Tok profile, Cameron says experts said the eggs were not fertilized and that their release only signaled the likely end of Terrence’s life. Until one night in February the father takes one of the eggs and accidentally bursts it.
“And this drop of water comes out and spreads out these tiny tentacles and, in my opinion, does three shots,” he described.
The family immediately concluded that Terrance was not only a female, but had given birth to 50 baby octopuses. “All bets are off,” Cameron said.
To accommodate the new residents, the family had to organize 50 new aquariums, as well as spend thousands of dollars on shellfish, crabs and snails and repair damage to the house, caused by an accident with one of the tanks.
“I wish I hadn’t opened that valve like that and dumped all that dirty sea water on my kids’ white carpet,” Cameron said.
But not everything is a problem. The father says it was a joyful and rewarding experience. “It was an absolutely fun experience, not only for me, but also for my children,” he says.
New home for octopuses
Two months after birth, half of the babies are still alive. According to the father, experts point out that this is an above-average survival rate. Star of the family’s Tik Tok profile, which currently numbers almost 400 thousand, Terrance is still alive and lives peacefully in her aquarium.
“She lives the rest of her life alone in her aquarium. She will probably die in the next few weeks, even though my assumptions about her were consistently wrong, ”says her father.
Cameron looked for a research center to try relocating some puppies. “It’s a lot of work. A lot of work, emotions, money and time. I don’t know if we’re fully prepared for any of these challenges, but the hope is to rehouse as many as possible. Those we can’t, we’ll find ways to keep in life and we will be responsible for it,” he explains.
@doctoktopus It’s been a month since Terry laid her eggs, but she’s still alive and well, even though she doesn’t have knees. ##octopus##Marine biology##shrimpdad##salted aquarium##fyp##cephalopods##petoctopo##petoctopo##ottomamma##biology##mom##salt water##vibes ♬ American Beauty Main Theme (from “American Beauty”) – Geek Music
Source: Terra
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