Octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid in public aquaria and research settings have welfare needs that are increasingly understood through behavioral research.
Cephalopod welfare in captivity requires addressing the distinctive needs of animals that are simultaneously highly intelligent, solitary, and short-lived. Octopuses in aquaria require individual housing with complex enrichment — puzzle feeders, environmental complexity, and novel objects — to prevent stereotypic behaviors and cognitive understimulation. Cuttlefish are more tolerant of conspecifics and can be housed in groups with appropriate management. Public aquaria that invest in species-specific enrichment and behavioral monitoring demonstrate that cephalopod welfare can be meaningfully addressed. The short lifespan of most captive cephalopods (1-2 years) means welfare is concentrated in a small time window.