January 8, 2026, by admin

We’re so excited to welcome a brand-new giant Pacific octopus to our aquarium! We can’t wait to introduce you to her on January 31st, during our free open aquarium hours.

Fun fact: when this octopus first arrived here in late summer, she weighed 33 grams — just five months later, she’s already over 200 grams! 

Now, we need your help with a very important task — thinking of a name for her!

Here’s how it’ll work:

Choose a name, and buy a $5 ticket. On Saturday, January 31st, each of the entered names will be written on a card and drawn from a bowl to fill in 16 spots of a 32-seeded double elimination bracket! If selected, your name and your suggested octopus name will appear during voting. Then, over the month of February, Sitkans will be able to vote on which name is the best until only one name remains! 

Want to guarantee that your name makes the bracket? Guaranteed name spots are available for purchase.  See diagram for more details. 

Buy your name submissions here before the event, and join us on Saturday, January 31st for a free day of family-friendly octopus fun! Learn about octopus anatomy from specimens, meet our new octo, and solve an eight-armed-mystery! You do not need to be present for your submitted name to be chosen. 

All proceeds will go to supporting aquarium care, maintenance, and education. Thank you for your participation! 

Once submitted, you cannot request to change the submitted name, although you can purchase more submissions. No refunds will be issued for guaranteed name submissions. If you have entered the drawing and would like a refund, please email Maia Carter at mcarter@sitkascience.org before Friday, January 30th at 11:59 pm for a full refund. No refunds for the drawing will be granted after Friday, January 30th at 11:59pm. 

Buy your naming contest ticket today and help name our new octo!