Octopus Grabs 6-Year-Old Boy at Aquarium, Injures Him, Mother Files Federal Complaint in San Antonio [WATCH]

A mother in Texas has filed a federal animal welfare complaint after her 6-year-old son was injured during a visit to the San Antonio Aquarium’s touch tank exhibit.

Britney Taryn, whose video account of the July 14 incident went viral on TikTok, says an octopus latched onto her son Leo’s arm, causing extensive bruising and distress, as reported by The New York Post.

Taryn told local outlet KSAT that the incident occurred when her son was at an interactive section of the aquarium featuring an octopus. According to her account, the octopus extended its tentacles over the side of the tank and wrapped itself around the child’s arm.

The octopus latched onto the six-year-old’s hand and refused to let go, leaving him with severe bruises.https://t.co/yyJk0mCthM

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 1, 2025

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“The octopus started to come out, up over the glass. My friend and I were not sure what to do. There’s no employees around so we started yelling for help,” Taryn said.

A staff member arrived and reportedly described the octopus as “super playful,” but was unable to remove the animal. It took two additional aquarium employees approximately five minutes to detach the octopus from Leo’s arm, according to Taryn.

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Photos shared by the mother show large, dark bruises covering Leo’s arm from wrist to armpit. The injuries were caused by the creature’s suction cups, which left visible marks referred to by Taryn as “suction hickeys.”

Taryn said that in previous visits, aquarium staff had been present at the tank to supervise interactions with the animal. However, during this incident, she said there were no employees nearby.

She filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stating that her son “sustained extensive suction bruises” and that employees “downplayed the incident.”

A pinned TikTok video from Taryn shows a San Antonio Aquarium staff member handling an octopus, which also latches onto the employee’s arm. In the clip, the staff member explains that octopuses are naturally curious and possess a poisonous beak.

“If she really wanted to, she could totally bite me,” the employee says in the video, adding, “She just loves people.”

According to the aquarium’s website, its “Animal Encounters” exhibit encourages children to interact with animals including octopuses, penguins, and lemurs, using a “gentle two-finger touch on their back.”

Taryn said she’s not seeking punishment for the animal but hopes to prevent future incidents. “I’m just worried something worse is going to happen,” she said. “I don’t want anything to happen to any more kids, any adults.”

She added that she hopes the octopus can be relocated to a rescue facility. “We would love to see it have a peaceful, untouched existence,” she said.

In videos posted to TikTok that have gone viral, Britney Taryn describes the giant Pacific octopus attacking her 6-year-old son, Leo. Two of the videos surpassed 1 million views as of Wednesday.

FULL STORY- https://t.co/k2pr4aHrbQ pic.twitter.com/ymECB36ojS

— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) July 31, 2025

The San Antonio Aquarium has not publicly commented on the incident.

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