Meet the Two Juvenile Red Octopuses Now on Display at Birch Aquarium
Ten months ago, they were eggs no bigger than a grain of rice. Now they are juvenile Red Octopuses with working camouflage, and two of them just moved into a habitat you can visit.
They are among the first Red Octopuses ever successfully raised to the juvenile stage in aquarium care, which makes this an unusually close look at a species living right off our coast. Birch Aquarium’s Animal Care Team spent the better part of a year getting them here.
Ten Months From a Grain of Rice
The octopuses hatched last October as paralarvae: tiny, free-swimming, and drifting before they settled to the seafloor. What followed was a full transformation into the animals on display today.
“Watching them grow over the last 10 months has been such an incredible experience, and I’ve gained such a newfound appreciation and respect for Red Octopuses,” said Maddy Tracewell, Senior Aquarist of Animal Health.
Horizontal Pupils and Skin That Rearranges Itself
As they matured, their camouflage got sharper. Their eyes developed distinctive horizontal pupils, and their bodies turned more opaque as leucophores, the light-reflecting cells behind white coloration, continued to develop.
They also formed more defined skin papillae along their heads and bodies, giving them finer control over texture. Watch long enough and you may catch one vanishing into its own background.
Only About One Percent Make it in the Wild
Six of the octopuses reached the juvenile stage, which lands differently once you know that only about one percent of octopuses in the wild survive to adulthood.
Because no one had raised this species from hatching to juvenile in aquarium care, the team had no way of knowing when that milestone would arrive.
“Turns out it takes about nine months for them to become juveniles,” said Tracewell. She presented her findings at the 2026 Regional Aquatics Workshop and took home the Best of RAW: Best First-Time Presenter Award.
Where to Find Them in the Living Seas Gallery
Look for the small nursery habitat in the Coastal California section of the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery. A divider splits it into two spaces so the pair can grow side by side while staying safely apart.
Birch Aquarium sits on a bluff above the Pacific at Expedition Way in La Jolla and opens daily at 9 AM, with closing hours that vary by day. Buy tickets online in advance for the best pricing, or pick up an annual membership if you plan to come back.
See you there!
Two ten-month-old octopuses, one divided nursery tank, and a first for aquarium care. Go early, take your time, and let your eyes adjust before you decide the habitat is empty.
📆 Open daily from 9 AM
📍 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla
🎟️ Grab your tickets here
ℹ️ Dive into the details here
See you there, San Diego!
