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#1 For you frigid: Otto the octopus causes havoc
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:22 am
by The Silence and I
Link
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.
Last Updated: 10:48PM GMT 31 Oct 2008
Otto at the Sea Star Aquarium in Coburg, Germany
The culprit of the smashed glass and broken lamp is two foot seven inch Otto. Photo: EUROPICS
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."
#2
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 6:40 am
by LadyTevar
And people wonder if Octopi are intelligent.
Sounds like this one's pretty sharp.
#3
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 10:33 am
by Cynical Cat
LadyTevar wrote:And people wonder if Octopi are intelligent.
Sounds like this one's pretty sharp.
Octopi get up to all kinds of shit. The one in the Vancouver Aquarium used to leave his tank and go hunting at night. The staff finally found out he was responsible for killing off the other fish when one night he decided to stay in his prey's tank and not go back to his own.
#4
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:39 pm
by rhoenix
I once saw a show that predicted "future evolution" in about 1000 years' worth of time, and it once suggested that octopi would then adapt to succeed humanity, were humanity to exit stage left.
After reading the above article, that makes much more sense.
#5
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:15 pm
by frigidmagi
This is why eating an octopus is an act of defense to secure our place on the food chain.
#6
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 4:19 pm
by Cynical Cat
frigidmagi wrote:This is why eating an octopus is an act of defense to secure our place on the food chain.
I use the same argument about pigs. The mean bastards will eat us if they get the chance.
#7
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 4:45 pm
by Jason_Firewalker
Cynical Cat wrote:frigidmagi wrote:This is why eating an octopus is an act of defense to secure our place on the food chain.
I use the same argument about pigs. The mean bastards will eat us if they get the chance.
How un-Kosher....
#8
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 8:26 pm
by LadyTevar
Jason_Firewalker wrote:Cynical Cat wrote:frigidmagi wrote:This is why eating an octopus is an act of defense to secure our place on the food chain.
I use the same argument about pigs. The mean bastards will eat us if they get the chance.
How un-Kosher....
Sorry, we don't do Kosher. This is why we can eat Deer, Squirrel, and Possum.
#9
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:13 pm
by Batman
Technically, that's untrue. You not doing kosher would be you REFUSING to eat kosher food and I very much suspect that's not true. You merely don't give a damn wether or not it's kosher to begin with.
And where's Spider-Man when you need him?
#10
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:41 am
by Shark Bait
rhoenix wrote:I once saw a show that predicted "future evolution" in about 1000 years' worth of time, and it once suggested that octopi would then adapt to succeed humanity, were humanity to exit stage left.
After reading the above article, that makes much more sense.
That damn future is wild show I really hate its jumps in logic they don't make much sense.
Octopi are smart, they use primitive found tools, and there is a good measure of data supporting that they have an ability for social learning. But they are happy in the water, they have stayed in the water for a reason, its EASY to stay in a marine environment if you start out there, going back is harder, in 200my squid will not walk on land. They have stayed in the water for over 500my for a reason.