Meet Our New Campus Octopus!

If you've heard excited chatter about something with eight arms in Mrs. Duncan’s room, it's true—we have a new resident! On March 5th, our classroom welcomed a Caribbean reef octopus (Octopus briareus), and it's safe to say this mysterious creature is already making waves.

Finding a classroom octopus wasn’t easy. These amazing animals are rarely available, and because they only live about a year, timing is everything. After a lot of research and patience, we were finally able to bring one into our learning environment—and what an incredible addition it’s been!

When our octopus arrived, it was tiny—about the size of a marble or a small grape, with delicate, spaghetti-thin arms. But don’t let that size fool you. Caribbean reef octopuses grow quickly, and ours is no exception. As you can see in the videos we’ve shared, it's already getting much bigger and braver!

Right now, we don’t know if it’s a he or a she. So until we do, we’re keeping things neutral—and we haven’t picked a name yet either. We’re taking some time to get to know our new octopus before choosing a name that truly fits its personality.

In the first video, you’ll see the octopus coming out to greet Mrs. Bixler’s kindergarten class—a cautious but curious appearance that shows just how much more comfortable it’s becoming.

In the second video, you can watch its enthusiastic reaction to a first-ever serving of fiddler crabs. It grabbed as many as it could fit under its webbing (the stretchy skin between its arms) and quickly retreated to its den for a delicious treat. Safe to say, fiddler crabs are a favorite!

Octopus Facts!

Here are some fun facts we’ve been learning about our eight-armed friend:

• Super Smart: Octopuses are incredibly intelligent. They can solve puzzles, open jars, and even remember people.

• Color-Changing Camouflage: Caribbean reef octopuses can change the color and texture of their skin to blend in with their surroundings—perfect for hiding from predators or sneaking up on prey!

• Short but Speedy Life: This species only lives about 10 to 12 months, so it grows quickly—reaching full size in just about five months.

• Three Hearts & Blue Blood: Yes, you read that right! Octopuses have three hearts and blood that’s blue due to a copper-based molecule called hemocyanin.

• Solitary but Curious: Though they usually live alone in the wild, octopuses are curious and often explore their environments with their flexible, sensitive arms.

We’ll be sharing more updates, fun facts, and videos soon, so stay tuned. Our little octopus may still be growing, but it’s already captured our hearts.