An octopus at a Southern California aquarium is spending its final moments caring for her eggs, despite the fact that they will never hatch.
This situation brought back memories for me, reminding me of a giant Pacific octopus named Ghost that I encountered during a visit to an aquarium in Long Beach.
People online shared their connections to Ghost, some even showing off tattoos or sporting sweaters featuring this fascinating creature.
The aquarium fondly remembered her, stating on Instagram, “She was a great octopus and made eight impressions on all of our hearts.”
Ghost laid her eggs earlier this week, marking the onset of the aging phase of her life cycle.
During this time, octopuses often neglect their own needs, turning their focus entirely to protecting their eggs from bacteria and other threats.
Unfortunately, Ghost’s eggs are unfertilized and will not develop into hatchlings.
In their natural habitat, giant Pacific octopuses typically live a solitary life and only come together briefly for mating.
“In the wild, you can’t just introduce males and females whenever,” said Nate Jaros, the aquarium’s vice president of animal care. “It can lead to aggression or worse.”
Ghost was originally collected from the waters of British Columbia, Canada, arriving at the aquarium in May 2024.
She was quite small—only 3 pounds—when she arrived, but now she weighs over 50 pounds.
Typically, giant Pacific octopuses have a lifespan of 3-5 years. According to Jaros, Ghost is estimated to be between two and four years old.
She has been described as “superactive” and enjoyed human interaction, often engaging playfully during feeding times.
Staff even trained her to crawl into a basket so they could monitor her weight and nutrition.
Interestingly, sometimes Ghost would push away food just to interact with her caregivers.
“Octopuses are particularly special due to their intelligence and charisma,” Jaros noted, explaining the strong bond formed between the staff and these animals.
Her caregivers provided her with stimulating activities, such as puzzles filled with food, mimicking the challenges she would face while hunting.
Once, staff invested hours into creating a large acrylic maze just for her, and she mastered it almost immediately.
In her final days, Ghost has captured extra attention in her private tank, but the aquarium has already introduced a new octopus to step into her educational role.
The new arrival, a 2-pound octopus, is still being assessed, though it has already shown curiosity.
Jay McMahon, a marine biology student from Los Angeles, expressed his gratitude for being able to see Ghost once more during his recent visits.
He recounted how a trip to the aquarium at age four sparked his interest in marine research.
“Every moment means a lot when you connect with these creatures, especially knowing their time is limited,” he reflected. “I hope she inspires others to learn more about octopuses and their significance.”
