A 6-year-old child was left with bruises up his arm after a giant Pacific octopus grabbed him in a Texas aquarium. The child’s mom posted about the incident on social media, and the video quickly went viral, with over four million views.
Britney Taryn posted pictures, footage, and her thoughts on TikTok, including her son’s bruised arm. She explained that her child is so interested in aquatic wildlife that they visited the same octopus every week for three years. “She always loved him until today, when she tried to pull him into the tank,” the caption reads. The concerned mom reveals it took three employees to pry the octopus off her kid’s arm. She asks, “Was it affection? Recognition? Or something more dangerous?”
Taryn’s video opens with an image of her child’s arm covered in dozens of round bruises. She explains that touching is encouraged at the San Antonio Aquarium, and her son always enjoys visiting his favorite octopus. On previous visits, Taryn claims the octopus suctioned onto her son’s arm but always let go.
Taryn’s Son Calmly Explained That The Octopus Was Not Letting Go
In a situation that would terrify some adults, Taryn says her son calmly exclaimed that the octopus would not let go of him. As she pulled her son away from the tank, the octopus refused to release. It ultimately took three employees armed with ice packs to force the animal back into the tank. “I think we all did a very good job staying calm, including my son,” Taryn says. “But if you’d like me to, I’ll punch this ************ in his face,” she joked.
Ultimately, Taryn’s kid escaped with just bruises, but she asked if anyone with experience thought the behavior was concerning. Many commenters praise her son’s cool-headed attitude, and some suggest the octopus is fond of him as he’s such a frequent visitor. Others believe the touch tank is cruel and the animal is likely stressed.
Perhaps in response to the attention Taryn’s video received, San Antonio Aquarium released an informational video about the octopus shortly after. The worker described the suction cup marks as “octopus kisses,” which can look different depending on who they are on. “Bruises will disappear in between 7-14 days and aren’t harmful or anything like that,” she clarifies.