Octopus Squeezes Through Increasingly Smaller Slots in Plastic Wall Separating Him From His Beloved Barrel

Arnold, the very intelligent octopus at Octolab, was given another puzzle to solve. A transparent plastic wall with adjustable slots was put between him and his beloved barrel. Arnold had to squeeze through these slots, which grew increasingly smaller, in order to reach the other side of the wall with his barrel.

We’re constantly being told that an octopus can fit through any hole. As long as he can fit his beak through a small space, his entire body will follow. We decided to test this out ourselves. …In no way was the octopus in this video placed in harm’s way at any time. The octopus in this video weighs about 4 pounds (1.8 KG). He measures approximately 30 inches (76cm) from the tip of one arm to the tip of the opposite arm when he’s stretched out. The spaces he attempts to go through in this challenge are
0.70 inches (1.7cm)
0.79 inches (2cm)
0.98 inches (2.5cm)
1.18 inches (3cm)
1.38 inches (3.5cm)

After making an amazing number of successful attempts, Arnold decided that was absolutely done.

Octolab is a research facility that seeks to learn more about these incredible creatures by observing their behavior in a variety of situations. Each and every cephalopod in their care has been rescued from a fisherman’s catches and saved from an otherwise horrific fate.

At no point do we place any of our animals in harm’s way. Our priority is, always has been, and will always be the well-being and health of our octopuses. …All of the eight-armed friends who are part of the Octolab project were rescued from the catch of fishermen. Their fate would have been gruesome otherwise. Quite literally they would have been smashed on the rocks while still alive to “tenderize” them and then hung to dry in the sun before being sold to local seafood restaurants and markets.