Beloved giant Pacific octopus at Aquarium of the Pacific enters final stage of life while guarding unfertilized eggs

A giant Pacific octopus at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, has entered the final phase of her life and is spending her remaining energy caring for eggs that aquarium staff say are unfertilized and will not hatch.

The animal, known to visitors as Ghost, laid eggs earlier this week and moved into senescence, a natural end-of-life stage during which female octopuses typically stop eating and focus on protecting and aerating their eggs. "She is a wonderful octopus and has made an eight-armed impression on all of our hearts," the aquarium said in a post on Instagram.

Nate Jaros, the aquarium’s vice president of animal care, said the eggs are unfertilized and therefore will not develop into hatchlings. He described senescence as a period when a female octopus neglects basic needs to tend eggs, including aerating them to prevent bacterial growth. In the wild, giant Pacific octopuses live solitary lives and gather only briefly to mate; Jaros said males and females cannot be housed together for sustained periods because of the risk of aggression or death.

Ghost was collected from the waters off British Columbia and arrived at the aquarium in May 2024. She weighed about 3 pounds at arrival and grew to more than 50 pounds during her time on exhibit. Aquarium staff estimate Ghost’s age at between two and four years; giant Pacific octopuses typically live three to five years.

Staff and visitors have formed strong attachments to Ghost, and social media posts have reflected that connection. Fans shared memories of seeing the octopus on visits to the aquarium, and some posted photographs showing tattoos or clothing featuring her likeness. Marine biology student Jay McMahon of Los Angeles said he visited the aquarium in recent weeks to see Ghost again and called the encounter inspiring. "When you make a connection with an animal like that and you know they don’t live for that long, every moment means a lot," McMahon said.

Jaros described Ghost as an active, tactile animal that engaged with caregivers and enrichment activities. She was trained to voluntarily enter a basket for weighing and dietary monitoring and frequently solved puzzles and toys designed to mimic the effort required to extract live prey. On one occasion, staff built a large acrylic maze for her to explore, which Jaros said she mastered almost immediately.

While Ghost receives special attention in a private tank during her final days, the aquarium has introduced a new giant Pacific octopus to continue conservation and education efforts. The newcomer, a roughly 2-pound (900-gram) animal, will be observed to determine its temperament and receive a name once staff have assessed its personality. Jaros described the new octopus as "super curious" and outgoing.

The aquarium said its caregivers will continue to monitor Ghost and ensure she is as comfortable as possible as she tends the eggs. The institution has a history of public outreach centered on cephalopods, aiming to educate visitors about the species’ intelligence, ecology and short lifespan.

Ghost’s situation highlights the life history of giant Pacific octopuses: rapid growth, complex behavior and a brief life span that culminates in intense parental investment. In the wild, the parental care exhibited during senescence is essential for the survival of fertilized eggs, but in this case, aquarium staff confirmed the clutch will not produce young.

Visitors and former visitors who have followed Ghost’s time at the aquarium have expressed appreciation for the chance to observe the animal up close and said they hoped her presence would continue to inspire interest in marine life. The aquarium has said it will share updates through its social channels as staff continue their work with Ghost and the new octopus taking her place on exhibit.