Octopuses might be the closest thing Earth has to aliens: three hearts, blue blood, no bones, and a mini-brain in each of their eight arms. They solve puzzles, open jars, carry coconut shells as armor, and disappear with instant camouflage.
📋 Octopus at a glance
⚡ Superpower
An octopus can change its color AND texture in less than a second to vanish against any background.
🤩 Amazing Octopus facts
An octopus has three hearts and blue blood.
❓ Common questions about octopuss
How big is an octopus?
Giant Pacific: arm span to 16 ft. An octopus has three hearts and blue blood.
Where do octopuss live?
Octopuss live in the wild: oceans worldwide, from reefs to the deep sea. They are wild animals and are never kept as pets.
How long do octopuss live?
Octopuss typically live 1–5 years (most species).
Can you keep an octopus as a pet?
No — Octopuss are wild animals that belong in the wild (oceans worldwide, from reefs to the deep sea), and keeping one would be unsafe and usually illegal. The closest pet you can actually keep is a fish — see our care guide.
Could you keep an octopus as a pet?
No — octopuss are wild animals that belong in the wild, and keeping one would be unsafe and almost always illegal. But if octopuss are your favorite, here's the closest pet you actually can welcome home:
Meet the FishBecause a pet octopus is only for expert aquarists, but a beginner aquarium is a wonderful window into aquatic life.
See care guide →
🎬 See octopuss in action
Watch kid-friendly videos about octopuss on YouTube.
▶ Watch Octopus videos on YouTube