Beloved giant octopus dies months after laying thousands of eggs, Arizona aquarium says
Tako, a female giant Pacific octopus, has died months after laying tens of thousands of eggs, an aquarium in Arizona where she lived said.
OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale announced Tako’s death on Tuesday, Oct. 18, about four months after she entered senescence, an end-of-life cycle. She died over the weekend, the aquarium told McClatchy News.
“Tako was gentle, loving, and unique; she created special bonds with everyone who cared for her at OdySea Aquarium,” the aquarium’s director of animal care Dave Peranteau said in a Facebook post. “She touched many hearts, and we will feel her indelible mark for a long time to come.”
During senescence, female octopuses begin to lay and brood eggs, which look like rice. They can also begin to show signs of a weakened appetite, dull coloration and lack in participation with aquarium team members, aquarium spokesperson Karin Gallo told McClatchy News by email in June.
This process typically lasts five months to a year. Tako started laying eggs at the beginning of June, a period when she laid most of her eggs, Gallo told McClatchy News on Tuesday.
In August, the aquarium said she began to lose sight in her eyes and her coloring changed from a “bright pinkish-red to a subtle hue.” She was still eating small portions of shrimp at that time, but preferred to eat from people she had a strong bond with.
Tako remained on exhibit before her death and laid eggs around her enclosure. In fact, she was the first giant Pacific octopus at the aquarium to lay eggs on exhibit, Gallo said.
Her eggs never hatched though because Tako didn’t have a companion, according to the aquarium.
Tako had been at the aquarium since Sept. 2, 2020, but it’s unclear exactly how old she was. The aquarium staff estimated she could have been between 3 and 4 years, which meant she was nearing the end of her life.
Giant Pacific octopuses typically have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years, the aquarium said.
This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 5:44 PM with the headline "Beloved giant octopus dies months after laying thousands of eggs, Arizona aquarium says."
