A 9-year-old boy’s dream of a pet octopus causes a sensation as thousands follow Terrance’s story online.

The one thing 9-year-old Cal Clifford wanted more than anything since he was little was a pet octopus.

The boy’s family in rural Edmond, Oklahoma, indulged him with toy versions of an eight-legged mollusk, but as Cal grew up, it became clear that only the real thing would do the job. affair.

The child’s father, 36-year-old dentist Cameron Clifford, investigated the possibility at a local aquarium store and soon after, Terrance, the California two-spotted octopus, also known as name bimac, lived in a water enclosure in the family home southwest of Oklahoma City.

“We really like to encourage our kids’ interests,” said Clifford, the eldest. “It’s magical to see a child embrace their dreams and make them come true. Cal has been passionate about the natural world and marine biology since he was little.”

A popular saga on TikTok was launched with the father telling the story of Terrance the cephalopod, using a fake British accent generated by the social media app. Eventually, hundreds of thousands followed.

Within a few weeks, the story took a surprising turn when it was learned that Terrance was actually a female since she had laid around fifty eggs that the family initially thought were unfertilized. Several weeks later, tiny, almost transparent baby octopuses began hatching and were given names like Rocket Larry, Squid Cudi, Swim Shady, Jay-Sea, and Sea-Yoncé.

Cal had broken down in tears at the family dinner table when his father first announced that the local aquarium store had told him it would be possible to adopt an octopus.

Father and son researched together what was needed, choosing a saltwater tank and water recycling system and ensuring they would be able to provide food for this soft-bodied sea creature.

The family’s youngest son, Lyle, and his mother Kari also joined the project in their own way. A family friend, a reptile specialist, provided support and advice.

While female octopuses typically die shortly after laying their eggs, Clifford said Terrance remained alive four months later.

Clifford said the family learned a lot from the experience.

“Aside from the physical, financial and emotional demands of owning a species like a bimac, you learn a lot about yourself in the process,” Arizona-born Clifford told subscribers of TikTok with its app-generated accent. “There is always a valve or seal that is not completely closed, and your stormproof mat is not rated for gallons and gallons of seawater. You will learn that seawater and electricity doesn’t always work well together.”

“You will learn new things, meet incredible people and learn that the wildlife is magnificent,” he added. “But most importantly, you will learn to love a not-so-small octopus like Terrance.”