Sniper Octopus

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3328480/Otto-the-octopus-wrecks-havoc.html

Otto the octopus wreaks havoc A octopus has caused havoc in his aquarium by performing juggling tricks using his fellow occupants, smashing rocks against the glass and turning off the power by shortcircuiting a lamp. Staff believe that the octopus called Otto had been annoyed by the bright light shining into his aquarium and had discovered he could extinguish it by climbing onto the rim of his tank and squirting a jet of water in its direction. The short-circuit had baffled electricians as well as staff at the Sea Star Aquarium in Coburg, Germany, who decided to take shifts sleeping on the floor to find out what caused the mysterious blackouts. A spokesman said: "It was a serious matter because it shorted the electricity supply to the whole aquarium that threatened the lives of the other animals when water pumps ceased to work. "It was on the third night that we found out that the octopus Otto was responsible for the chaos. "We knew that he was bored as the aquarium is closed for winter, and at two feet, seven inches Otto had discovered he was big enough to swing onto the edge of his tank and shoot out a the 2000 Watt spot light above him with a carefully directed jet of water." Director Elfriede Kummer who witnessed the act said: "We've put the light a bit higher now so he shouldn't be able to reach it. But Otto is constantly craving for attention and always comes up with new stunts so we have realised we will have to keep more careful eye on him - and also perhaps give him a few more toys to play with. "Once we saw him juggling the hermit crabs in his tank, another time he threw stones against the glass damaging it. And from time to time he completely re-arranges his tank to make it suit his own taste better - much to the distress of his fellow tank inhabitants."

I've read other reports about how incredibly intelligent octopi are. One lab had an octopus in one tank, and across the room, a bunch of crabs in another. The crabs kept disappearing every night, one by one, without a trace. They finally realized the octopus was climbing out, cruising across the lab, opening the crab tank's lid, having a snack, closing the crab tank, and then going back to his own tank to practice his whistling and innocent expression.

glad the ones I deal with are frozen.

I would love a pet octopus.

If I ever become a Bond-esque Evil Overlord, I will have a pet octopus in a tank next to my art-deco throne, and I will let him climb up my arm and pet him while addressing my underlings or captured foes.

Is it just me, or does the topic title sound like a villan from Metal Gear Solid?

ArtOfRuin wrote: Is it just me, or does the topic title sound like a villan from Metal Gear Solid?

Sniper Wolf, Decoy/Laughing Octopus.

Duke wrote: I've read other reports about how incredibly intelligent octopi are. One lab had an octopus in one tank, and across the room, a bunch of crabs in another. The crabs kept disappearing every night, one by one, without a trace. They finally realized the octopus was climbing out, cruising across the lab, opening the crab tank's lid, having a snack, closing the crab tank, and then going back to his own tank to practice his whistling and innocent expression.

That is awesome. So it was getting out of the water, walking on its legs to the other tank out of the water, and stealing crabs? That's something I'd like to see.

They don't walk on their legs, they kind of slither. And yes that story is real.

They have also taken food animals, put in a container sealed with a cork and put into an aquarimum with an octopus. It learns to pop the cork and climb into the small container to get at it. They are spooky smart.

" having a snack, closing the crab tank,"

if he was doing that consistently... think about the amount of forethought required. "I better close the damn lid or else those dern land-dwellers'll figure out why them there crabs are missing and that'll be the end of my latenight snacks!" maybe this lil cartoon ain't so farfetched... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaM9mrnOMJo