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Otto the Octopus update: I heard back from Elfi Kummer at the SeaStar Aquarium (self.funny)

submitted ago by Xtal

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[–]Xtal[S] 70 points71 points ago* 

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Dear Ms. [Xtal].

Thanks for your interest in our octopus ´Otto´.

Of course we switch of the light in Otto´s aquarium at nights. We do everything to make him as compfortable as possible. We even use special aquarium lights which simulate natural sunlight. But it is just extremely hard to keep him entertained because he´s so smart that even the best toys don´t keep him busy for a long time. By shooting at the lamp he is only seeking our attention because we will spend some hours playing with him when repairing the light.

Kind regards,

Elfi Kummer SeaStar Aquarium

[–]hajk 78 points79 points ago

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a web cam has already been suggested. Maybe he should have full access to the web? Just give him a waterproof screen and keyboard. perhaps he may find certain Japanese websites interesting?

[–][deleted] 28 points29 points ago

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not recommended. he will become addicted to octopus porn.

[–]MercurialMadnessMan 20 points21 points ago* 

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They’re not tentacles, they're gentacles!

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points ago

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In other news today, an octopus held at an aquarium in Coburg, Germany has been arrested after multiple attempts to rape visiting female Japanese foreign exchange students.

[–]Spazsquatch 1 point2 points ago

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...and robots.

[–]wartexmaul 0 points1 point ago

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testacles

[–]yellowdart 0 points1 point ago

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Upmod for Home Movies reference!

[–]hajk 22 points23 points ago

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well it is either that or get busted by the MPAA for downloading Octopussy (and being dissapointed).

[–]kousi 0 points1 point ago

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I would expect that octopus porn would be mundane to him, perhaps add more tentacles, or maybe he'd be more into amputee porn :S

[–]gaoshan 0 points1 point ago

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Seeing that stuff could be just the thing for a genious like Otto. It could be his calling... the big break he's so obviously chafing for. Dare I say it? He could turn out to be the John Holmes of tentacle porn.

[–]zachv 5 points6 points ago

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All jokes aside, I think that'd be a great experiment.

And if not with Otto, maybe with other smart octopi (or cuttlefish, or hell, dolphins and other creatures that we've realized are "intelligent"). An idea like that makes me think of that one bonobo (?) who learned to communicate by pointing to buttons / symbols, and since he learned it as a baby, it was effectively his "native language."

Anyway, I think that'd be great, and super interesting.

[–]torrent1337 5 points6 points ago

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Here is an idea. Check out the company Golden Shellback and their waterproofing technologies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLFDT_I2Up4 They already completely waterproofed an Ipod touch without any case. Contact them and the guy at the aquarium and ask if they would waterproof an Ipod touch pro bono for commercial footage of the octopus playing with it. It would be great for their publicity and our 8 legged friend would be satisfied easily and cheaply. If you get an OK from the company and the aquarium assistant then start a fundraising drive to buy a refurbished ipod touch from apple and get them to donate one. Easy Reddit publicity.

[–]KlassyGuy 0 points1 point ago

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Octopi have appendages that can control things, it's a little harder to do it with fins and such. Monkeys I understand, but fish are a different thing. Anybody up for "global thermonuclear war?"

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]Cenobite 0 points1 point ago

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All experiments aside, I think that'd be great fun.

[–]aphrodite1 7 points8 points ago

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Sounds like my boyfriend.

[–]NoodlyAppendage 10 points11 points ago

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He shoots at the lamp too?

[–]foxhunter 2 points3 points ago

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Props for appropriate handle

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points ago

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has anyone ever tried to figure out if, given the right controller, an octopus could play a video game?

[–]manthrax 9 points10 points ago

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OH hell yeah.. I like the way you think. He could control an entire squad in BF1942, although they should probably start with something like pac-man.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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zactly.

[–]xakh 6 points7 points ago

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There was an experiment about that, it created the original Xbox's controller.

[–]Tze-Lu 5 points6 points ago

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It really doesn't surprise me that the original article was inaccurate in so far as that it suggested that they didn't switch off the lights...

[–]scott 4 points5 points ago

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if only he was cute like a cat or a dog then people would love him!

oh god save the intelligent but fucked up 8-armed sea creatures!

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago* 

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Send them another email. There is published research on octopus eyes.

I wonder if they have ever thought about the fact that octopus have different eyes and they are very sensitive to UV Light. Human eyes have the blood vessels situated differently to provide UV protection. Octopus do not because they live in water and the water would normally provide protection from UV. Maybe in a shallow tank, there is not enough water to provide protection. The lamp he is blowing out might be putting out light that hurts his eyes or something. Also, some lamps like florescent lights blink on and off at 60 Hz at the rate of AC. Humans can't detect it but some animals can. Maybe light is making Otto angry.

[–]itsnotlupus 4 points5 points ago

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Give him an office, a day job and a lot of mindless paperwork until he forgets what it means to play.

[–]kino101 4 points5 points ago

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ritalin, of course

[–]allenizabeth 2 points3 points ago

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I didn't know octopi were that smart! I'm amazed one wants to be played with.

[–]bandman614 2 points3 points ago

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If they can't figure out what other toys to give him, I'm sad for them.

I seriously like the video game idea. Let him interact with a screen when no one can play with him. give him a simple drawing program and let him go nuts. Put a mirror in the tank, and maybe he'll draw himself. It's still up in the air as to whether Octopi are self aware, right?

[–]1100 2 points3 points ago

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exactly. the solution is as simple as "art".. I would spend a lot of time going back and forth drawing with otto. there's a solution! hire otto a friend! ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME!

[–]anonymoustroll 0 points1 point ago

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Put a mirror in the tank,

I don't think octopuses are smart enough to pass the self recognition test.

also, this paper Bradley, E. A., & Messenger, J. B. (1977). Brightness preference in Octopus as a function of the background brightness. Marine Behaviour and Physiology, 4 (4), 243-251. might help with the shooting the light out problem...

[–]burtonator 1 point2 points ago

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Screw this... this guy should be the new Reddit Logo going forward.

He's my new hero!

[–]anonymoustroll 0 points1 point ago

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have you tried throwing a rubik's cube into the tank?

I'd pay money to see something with 8 arms solve that in some reasonably short amount of time.

...oh, right... color blind.

[–]gusevx -4 points-3 points ago* 

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Ms.? There's no girls on the internet.

Edit: Typical.

[–]timperry42 1 point2 points ago

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apparently there is or you wouldnt have been downmodded.

[–]gusevx 1 point2 points ago* 

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I know right? Guess there is a total of five on the internet and all of them can't take sarcasm.

[–]Xtal[S] 2 points3 points ago* 

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Wasn't me. I ignore-modded it.

[–]gusevx 1 point2 points ago

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And for the record, this was a great story and I'm glad you followed up on it.

[–]waya1 23 points24 points ago

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I hate to state the obvious , but get him a girl.

[–]Doomdoomkittydoom 9 points10 points ago

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The part that isn't obvious is that male octopi tend to die soon after mating. Females soon after hatching a brood.

[–]anodes 0 points1 point ago

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hm...perhaps, but perhaps not (see second ref).

i wonder how much data actually exists regarding the mating habits of various species of octopuses, and how long it takes males/females to die after breeding?

[–]Doomdoomkittydoom 0 points1 point ago* 

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Hmmm, still... On the one hand this octopus has demonstrated his particular cleverness, so maybe you'd not want to chance it and you should get him that lego mind storm set instead. On the other, maybe you want to set that stud out to stud, and have Ottos II - CDXX.

[–]movzx 0 points1 point ago

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Well, problem solved, right?

[–]Doomdoomkittydoom 0 points1 point ago

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Or deep frying, maybe?

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

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agreed. he needs a little octopussy

[–]tangled 3 points4 points ago

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What if he likes boys?

[–]umilmi81 13 points14 points ago

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Then send him to the reeducation camps.

[–]mkrfctr 2 points3 points ago

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You mean like a seminary.

[–]seaseme 0 points1 point ago

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agreed.

[–]Doomdoomkittydoom 17 points18 points ago

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Get him a mini, motorized tank with joystick control, like a supra-mersible. Then he could just wander the aquarium at night.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points ago

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EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!

[–]1100 0 points1 point ago

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fuck yeah

[–]SgtPsycho 14 points15 points ago

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Just in case you have no idea what this about...

reddit post

[–]silverionmox 7 points8 points ago

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They'd better get him some entertainment fast or he'll be taking over the world just to avoid boredom.

[–]NoodlyAppendage 6 points7 points ago

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I, for one, would welcome our new tentacular overlord.

[–]MercurialMadnessMan 2 points3 points ago

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Well you do seem to be a fan of the noodlyappendages!

[–]lavendula13 5 points6 points ago

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Full-time babysitter?

[–]mizaya 4 points5 points ago

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They should stock his tank with dogfish.

[–]Thimble 1 point2 points ago

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the fish or the beer? i'm hoping you meant the latter (damn fine american beer).

[–]mizaya 0 points1 point ago

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Fish.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points ago

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Get him a narwall.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

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I wonder if they have ever thought about the fact that octopus have different eyes and they are very sensitive to UV Light.

[–]boxofrain 1 point2 points ago

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I think Otto needs some octopussy

[–]alesis 1 point2 points ago

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Rent him 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

[–]neurolux 3 points4 points ago

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Get him some Legos, or some under water nerf spears. or better yet, a Steve Irwin doll!

[–]LukeDuke 0 points1 point ago

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yeah a webcam would be sweet... octopi are badass

[–]wartexmaul 0 points1 point ago

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How about a FREAKING LAYYYYSER!!!

[–]catsfive -3 points-2 points ago

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Let's assess his intelligence. He's obviously bored. Maybe some Desperate Housewives? Wait. Scratch that-- bored is way more preferable to suicidal.

[–]tangled -4 points-3 points ago

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West Wing! First Octopus President...

[–]Maeglom 2 points3 points ago

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He'd be great at multi tasking.

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