Posted on 04/14/2024 2:51:31 AM PDT by Morgana
An Oklahoma family had no idea that a birthday gift for their nine-year-old son would lead to the birth of 50 octopus babies, numerous water tanks that took over half of a bathroom, and thousands of dollars on food supplies and water damage repairs.
Cameron Clifford, a 36-year-old dentist, said his son Cal had been obsessed with octopuses since the age of three.
'Every birthday, every Christmas, every holiday, he would always say: 'All I want is an octopus,'' Clifford told the New York Times.
In October, Clifford made a call to a local aquarium store and acquired a female California two-spot octopus for Cal's ninth birthday. They named her Terrance.
Terrance turned out to be larger than expected and soon began laying eggs. Clifford documented the journey on TikTok, where his videos amassed millions of views from 400,000 followers.
'Do not get a pet octopus unless you're ready to lose sleep and your kids' college fund simultaneously,' he told USAToday, jokingly.
When Clifford told his son that they could order an octopus from a local aquarium store, the nine-year-old immediately burst into tears.
'His ultimate dream, his cloud nine, the greatest thing that could ever possibly happen in one's life had just become a possibility, and he just broke down,' Clifford said.
'My friends and family, of course, all, as you probably imagine, said to me, 'Well, now you have to get it for him. You can't just dangle that in front of him and then turn around and just flatline that dream.'' the father added.
The father and son began preparing for the arrival of the pet octopus, which they named Terrence.
Clifford ordered a saltwater tank, a water cycling system and food supplies for Terrence, mostly from Facebook marketplace. He thought it would cost around $600.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The day is young.
It was buy one get 50 free.
LOL! There’s a guy who has a Youtube channel who documents the life of a lobster he rescued from the fish dept. at his local supermarket......
Octopi are smarter than dogs and they are known for leaving their cages if they can. They will eat your small pets if they get a hold of them.
You know what? I’m sorry to say this but the Dad is stupid.
Stupid for getting the Octopus in the first place but now he has 50 of those suckers and does not know how to be rid of them?
Okay Dad let me help you out.
Sell them on facebook like you bought the first one?
Drive to the ocean and let them all 51 of them loose?
Find Japanese or Asian restaurants who serve Octopus on the menu and sell it to them?
Oh I know they are smart and they can escape from even the smallest of holes.
This parent did not read up on the animal before he got one for the kid.
On what I said about getting rid of the babies? I think he should sell them to Japanese/Asian restaurants/supermarkets and get some money back.
I think the father was stupid for not doing his research on his pet before getting it.
Octopi jellies.
Definitely get rid of them by flushing them down.
Or just kill them.
Eight ways from Sunday...
Suckers!
To my surprise the book was a beautiful fantastic surprise and one of the best I have read this year. Here is a summery of the book…..
After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at an Aquarium. That helped her cope with her loses, especially that of her eighteen-year-old son who mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Of course he can’t talk to her, but finds ways to communicate.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.
>> Or just kill them.
Once upon a time in a restaurant in Japan I ate baby octopuses (octopi?) in plum sauce. They were about 4 inches long. Very good!
So Doctor Delbert Dumb and his spoiled son could raise them, kill them and eat them. Problem solved!
I wonder if you threw them against a wall, would they do this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSYYf6FknXA
I like your tag line. Although I pray that normal WILL put in at least a cameo appearance in the near future. :-)
At Edwards AFB after a rainstorm there would be millions of them. They’re brine shrimp and all it takes is a bit of water to rehydrate them. Imagine several square miles of water about 1 inch deep. Smelled horrible.
I’m gonna check Amazon for that book.
I see what you did there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.