Octopuses, with their mesmerizing movements and renowned intelligence, often capture our imaginations. The idea of keeping such a fascinating creature in a home aquarium can be incredibly tempting. Their problem-solving skills and ability to navigate complex environments make them seem like the ultimate intriguing pet. But before you envision a playful octopus in your living room, it’s crucial to understand the realities of octopus ownership. Is a Pet Octopus truly a good idea? The answer, as you’ll discover, is far more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
The Allure of Intelligent Companionship
It’s undeniable that octopuses are exceptionally intelligent beings. They are known to explore their surroundings with curiosity and can even form bonds with their human caretakers. Denise Whatley, an experienced octopus enthusiast from Gainesville, Georgia, who has cared for over 30 octopuses since 2006, has witnessed this firsthand. She’s trained her octopuses to approach her hand in their tank for interaction, as demonstrated with her eight-month-old octopus, Cassy.
[Image of an octopus reaching out to a hand in a tank](https://www.treehugger.com/thmb/o13v19F78a0Hpd-6EmvDOjKiiCQ=/750×0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/GettyImages-134498897-52203e0a184d4ff691914bb6b3250025.jpg)
“Home-kept octopus species often appear to enjoy brief petting sessions once they become accustomed to humans,” Whatley explains. However, she adds a note of caution, “It’s important to consider that this ‘petting’ might be more akin to a cat scratching an itch rather than a display of affection. Nevertheless, they do recognize individuals and interact differently with various people.”
Rose Blanco-Chamberland, another octopus keeper, experienced the captivating intelligence of these creatures when she introduced a California two-spot octopus (bimaculoides), affectionately named Cthulhu, into her saltwater aquarium setup. She was astounded by Cthulhu’s smarts and enriched his environment with toys to keep him stimulated. Cthulhu delighted in chasing toys around his tank and developed a particular fondness for zip ties.
[Image of an octopus in a tank with toys](https://www.treehugger.com/thmb/XQdj5qI0qi4p19g9i7l_9eK-Y9Y=/750×0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/GettyImages-530284829-55204b6a8a874b74a399685b99378463.jpg)
“One of his favorite activities was when I would place live food in a baby food jar, seal it with the lid, and then drop it into his tank,” Blanco-Chamberland recounts. “He would have to figure out how to open the jar, and watching him solve this puzzle was truly incredible.”
Decoding the Demands of Octopus Care
While the interactive nature of an octopus is undeniably appealing, potential owners must face the reality of their specialized care requirements, which demand considerable time, space, and financial resources. The aquarium setup and the continuous supply of live food are likely to be significantly more expensive than the octopus itself. Octopus costs can range from $20 to $1,000, depending on the species and source. (Important safety note: Never consider a blue-ringed octopus as a pet due to its extremely potent venom, which is dangerous even in minute quantities.)
Whatley recommends a minimum of a 55-gallon aquarium for an octopus, along with a separate large tank to house the necessary filtration equipment. Many experts suggest an even larger 70-gallon tank as the minimum for a softball-sized octopus, advising a long and low tank style to better mimic their natural ocean floor habitat. A securely fitted lid is also non-negotiable, given octopuses’ notorious reputation as escape artists, capable of squeezing through incredibly small openings.
Feeding an octopus presents another layer of complexity and expense. Typical pet stores don’t stock octopus food. As natural predators, octopuses hunt and consume anything smaller than themselves, while hiding from larger threats. Their dietary needs center around live prey such as grass shrimp, crayfish, and fiddler crabs, all of which require a separate, maintained tank.
“Octopuses are hunters by nature, so providing live food is essential. I maintained a holding tank in our back bedroom to keep his food supply, and I typically introduced two or three live creatures into his tank daily,” Blanco-Chamberland explains. “I also kept frozen krill on hand, but only offered it if I ran out of live food. He didn’t really enjoy the frozen food as much.”
The Undeniable Downsides of Octopus Pet Ownership
Katherine Harmon Courage, author of “Octopus! The Most Mysterious Creature In the Sea,” argues strongly against keeping octopuses as pets, even under the most ideal conditions.
Courage points out that breeding octopuses in captivity is exceptionally challenging. Consequently, the vast majority of pet octopuses are wild-caught, and their rightful place is in their natural marine environment.
[Image of an octopus in the ocean](https://www.treehugger.com/thmb/23bAQ7jY_J9iRDlS1sJpWzTzZCE=/750×0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/GettyImages-1256189376-329b74c88f6348d7a2d969f705a823c6.jpg)
“They are incredibly intelligent and appear to become easily bored,” Courage noted in Scientific American. “One study revealed that octopuses housed in small tanks, even with enrichments like flowerpots, stones, beads, and shells, still exhibited signs of distress and even self-mutilation. The typical fish tank setup is simply inadequate.”
Octopuses are not inherently suited for captivity or companionship. They have never undergone domestication. There’s a significant ethical concern surrounding confining such brilliant, intelligent animals – creatures capable of strategy, problem-solving, memory, and playfulness – solely for entertainment, novelty, or as a decorative element.
Courage also highlights that captive cephalopods may not provide the entertainment value expected. Many octopus species are nocturnal and will spend daylight hours hidden. In general, they spend a considerable amount of time in their dens, and as they become familiar with a confined space, they tend to spend even less time outside. This behavior strongly suggests that captivity is detrimental to their well-being and that confining them is a form of cruelty when their natural behaviors diminish.
“Octopuses are naturally shy creatures, and establishing a relationship takes time,” Whatley emphasizes. “Some individuals never fully acclimate to a captive environment or to human keepers.”
One octopus owner described his pet’s habit of squirting water out of the tank across the room to get attention. On several occasions, it even squirted ink onto the ceiling, resulting in the loss of his security deposit. Unlike domesticated pets like dogs or cats, octopuses cannot verbally communicate their needs for play or interaction. This owner observed, “They may not master a Rubik’s Cube, but they are likely smarter than your dogs and cats. However, it’s a different kind of intelligence. You can’t simply throw a toy and expect your octopus to fetch it. These animals require interaction and enrichment in unique ways. They need interactive toys, interesting habitats, and consistent interaction with their human caretakers.”
Octopuses are also highly sensitive to water parameter fluctuations, particularly pH balance, demanding meticulous water quality management.
Blanco-Chamberland emphasizes that maintaining pristine water quality was her biggest challenge. “Octopuses are extremely messy eaters, and consequently, water quality deteriorates rapidly. Without regular water changes and effective filtration, an octopus’s lifespan will be drastically shortened.”
Even with optimal care, the lifespan of a pet octopus in a home aquarium is typically limited to just a couple of years. “The most significant drawback by far is their short lifespan. The commonly kept home species only live for about a year, and dwarf species often live even less,” Whatley states.
Blanco-Chamberland strongly advises potential octopus owners to be fully prepared for the substantial financial and time commitments involved. She also stresses the importance of sourcing octopuses from reputable suppliers. “I’ve heard too many disheartening stories of people buying sick or dying octopuses from pet stores prioritizing profit over the well-being of the animal.”
Whatley recommends thorough husbandry research and advises against attempting to keep exotic species, as even experienced keepers face significant challenges. “Properly prepare a tank suitable for a variety of species and understand that your elaborate tank setup will likely outlast your first octopus inhabitant,” she advises.
Furthermore, consider that octopuses are incredibly fast swimmers in their natural habitat, capable of reaching speeds up to 25 miles per hour – four times faster than an Olympic swimmer. A tank environment will never allow them to express this natural behavior; it is inherently restrictive.
[Image of an octopus swimming in the ocean](https://www.treehugger.com/thmb/79Sz_5L1Y8Pp9Gt5PZcYoJnHQic=/750×0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/GettyImages-171383028-4a9e042a32bb4b27a74a53128dfa2947.jpg)
Perhaps, instead of keeping an octopus confined, we can take inspiration from Giovanni DiGarimore, the owner of a fish market in Morro Bay, California. In 2019, DiGarimore made headlines by purchasing a 70-pound live octopus, named Fred, from a fisherman and releasing him back into the ocean.
While it might seem unusual for a fish market owner to adopt such a stance, DiGarimore expressed a deep appreciation for octopuses. “It’s been a culmination of experiences over the last decade.” He recounts a memorable scuba diving encounter in Fiji: “I essentially played hide-and-seek with an octopus for 15 minutes underwater. It was an experience I’ll never forget.”
Ultimately, while the allure of a pet octopus is strong, responsible pet ownership necessitates careful consideration of their complex needs, ethical implications, and the limitations of a captive environment. Choosing to admire these incredible creatures in their natural habitat may be the most compassionate and enriching approach.
