Man Takes His Pet Octopus Out in Public and the Reactions Are Priceless
Most people expect to see dogs, cats, or maybe even a parrot when they're out and about, but an octopus? In all our years, we've never seen one. But that's exactly what happened when TikToker Steel (@slingin_steel) decided to bring his pet octopus along on a family walk, and viewers had plenty of entertaining things to say about it.
Steel designed a custom enclosure that lets him take his octopus with him when he's on the go. The enclosure rides on a skateboard he pulls behind him, creating a sight sure to stop people in their tracks. It's a perfect reminder that pet parents can be incredibly creative in finding ways to include their favorite animals in everyday adventures.
@slingin_steel Family walks #petoctopus#lilbro#petfamily#landaintsobad#lifeisgood
original sound - Steel
There was so much going on in this video that it was hard to know where to look first. As if seeing a pet octopus riding around in an enclosure on a skateboard wasn't unusual enough, there was also a cat trotting alongside it and meowing the entire time, leaving viewers with some serious questions, including whether the cat saw the octopus as a potential snack.
And then there was the dog casually leading the way as if strolling through the neighborhood with an octopus was the most normal thing in the world.
Viewers were entertained by all of it, too. @thegreatbandini got more than 30,000 likes when they said, "I love how you take your alien and familiars on walks together." Another commenter added, "Just walking your octopus and quadropus."
@MariaMariettaDZ Art spoke for all of us with, "Now I've seen everything! LOL!"
Related: Diver Spots Extremely Rare Double-Spot Octopus Vanish Into Sand in Seconds
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Can Octopuses Really Be Kept as Pets?
Commenter @Tartaglia Enthusiast pointed out, "The fact that the octopus is smart enough to probably enjoy this..." while @House of Gam joked, "Meanwhile, the octopus is memorizing the land, plotting their escape."
That second comment might not be too far off. We once had a friend who tried keeping a pet octopus, but no matter what they did, it kept finding ways to escape its aquarium. Sadly, one escape attempt ended with the octopus unable to figure out how to get back inside the tank.
That's one reason marine experts generally don't recommend octopuses as pets for most people. They're among the most intelligent animals on the planet, with incredible problem-solving abilities and a talent for escaping even well-secured enclosures.
On top of that, they're extremely sensitive to changes in light, temperature, water quality, and pH levels. They also require a specialized diet and daily enrichment to stay healthy and stimulated. While they're fascinating animals, they're definitely not an ideal pet for inexperienced marine animal lovers.
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This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM.