A 9-Year-Old Boy’s Dream Of A Pet Octopus Is A Sensation, With Thousands Following Terrance’s Story Online.

Cal Clifford, 9, has wanted a pet octopus since childhood.

The boy’s family in rural Edmond, Oklahoma, entertained him with toy copies of an eight-legged snail, but as Cal grew older, it became evident that only the actual thing would suffice.

The child’s father, 36-year-old dentist Cameron Clifford, inquired about the prospect with a local aquarium business. Terrance, a California two-spot octopus known as a bimac, soon lived in an underwater habitat at the family home southwest of Oklahoma City.

Edmond family grows unexpectedly after pet octopus lays eggs VOR News Image

A 9-Year-Old Boy’s Dream Of A Pet Octopus Is A Sensation, With Thousands Following Terrance’s Story Online.

“We really like to encourage our children’s interests,” stated the elder Clifford. “It’s beautiful to see a kid embrace and realize their ambitions. Cal has been fascinated in the natural world and marine biology since he was very little.”

The father opened a well-known TikTok story by telling the tale of Terrance the octopus in a fake British accent that the social media app had created. Eventually, hundreds of thousands of people started following.

Within weeks, the story took a surprising turn when it was discovered Terrance was a female, having deposited 50 eggs that the family initially presumed were unfertilized. Several weeks later, minuscule near-transparent octopus babies began hatching and were named Rocket Larry, Squid Cudi, Swim Shady, Jay-Sea, and Sea-Yoncé.

A 9-year-old boy’s dream of a pet octopus is a sensation as thousands follow Terrance’s story online VOR News Image

While female octopuses generally die shortly after laying their eggs, Clifford says Terrance still lives four months later.

Cal had broken into tears at the family dinner table when his father initially revealed that the local aquarium store had informed him that adopting an octopus was conceivable.

Father and son worked together to determine what was required, settling on a saltwater tank and water cycling system. They also ensured that they could provide food for the soft-bodied sea creature.

Lyle, the family’s younger son, and Kari, the mother, also contributed to the project in their ways. A family friend who is a reptile biologist has offered assistance and advice.

While female octopuses generally die shortly after laying their eggs, Clifford says Terrance still lives four months later.

Clifford stated that the family has benefited much from the experience.

A 9-year-old boy’s dream of a pet octopus is a sensation as thousands follow Terrance’s story online – VOR News Image

While female octopuses generally die shortly after laying their eggs, Clifford says Terrance still lives four months later.

“Aside from the physical, financial, and emotional requirements of owning a species such as a bimac, you will learn a lot about yourself in the process,” Arizona-born Clifford told TikTok users in his app-generated accent. “There’s always some valve or seal that isn’t completely closed, and your storm-resistant carpet isn’t rated for thousands of gallons of seawater.” You will discover that seawater and electricity sometimes get along.

“You will learn new things, meet incredible people, and learn that wildlife is magnificent,” he went on to say. But most of all, you’ll learn to love a not-so-tiny octopus like Terrance.”

SOURCE – (AP)