How to Buy Live Octopus & Other Exotic Seafood

If you are familiar with foreign cuisine, your recipe book might call for some unusual seafood such as octopus, squid or eel. Many of these can be purchased frozen, but if you like to know exactly where your food is coming from, you may opt for the live option. Finding these critters live can be difficult, but if you know where to look, it is possible.

Things You'll Need

  • Internet access
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Instructions

  1. How to Buy Live Octopus and Other Exotic Seafood

    • 1

      Do your research first. In some areas it is illegal to purchase animals such as octopuses, and you may need special permission to purchase them even for cooking.

    • 2

      Check in Asian markets. Exotic seafood is common in a number of Asian dishes, so you may be able to find live seafood tanks there.

    • 3

      Look online. There are websites that sell exotic seafood live, but be prepared to pay a lot for shipping.

    • 4

      Check aquatic pet stores. Occasionally these will carry things such as octopuses, eel and squid.

    • 5

      Check classified ads online and in the newspaper. Occasionally you will find seafood farmers who will have what you're looking for.