At Octolab, we know that octopuses are very intelligent creatures. In a way, we feel that the octopuses themselves know that they are very smart.

It should then be no surprise that some of our observational experiments end up having some very unexpected results. Yes, octopuses sure love adding their own plot twists to the story.

Such is the case with the experiment that was captured in this video. The Experiment was simple enough. It involved placing a fish inside a sealed container.

The container, which looks like a large baby bottle complete with a pacifier top, is actually a feeding bottle for small farm animals. The fish was placed inside and a small hole was drilled on the top before turning it to close it tight.

This setup would allow the octopus to be able to insert at least one of his arms inside in order to feel and taste the fish. Remember, octopuses can taste what they can touch.

Detecting an Opportunity

You will observe how the octopus comes across the sealed bottle and determines that there is something of interest inside. Initially, he gives the bottle the once-over and then leaves.

Time to Plot a Solution

Something that we have noticed in our experiments with the octopuses — as well as in other observations in the wild — is that octopuses take a bit of time to think of a solution to a problem that they encounter.

Very similar to a human being stepping back to scratch their heads and pace for a bit before the light bulb turns on in their head, so too do octopuses engage in that type of behavior — pondering. Five minutes is the average time that we have observed for octopuses to plot a solution.

Putting a Plan to Action

Octopuses are not only careful planners, but they are also very dedicated action takers.

In the video, you will see how the octopus approaches the bottle the second time with a sense of determination. You will see how he is able to insert one of his arms through the small opening in the bottle. He is able to grab a hold of the fish, thus confirming that it is food and therefore worth his time to continue.

You can rest assured that if upon touching the fish he would have tasted that it was something else — such as a toy rubber fish — he probably would have aborted his mission right there and then.

What We Expected

Honestly, we expected one of two outcomes. Either the octopus was going to attempt to pull the fish out of the small opening and give up after repeated attempts were unsuccessful or he was going to unscrew the top of the bottle.

Our assumption was based on documented cases of other octopuses successfully unscrewing bottles in similar circumstances.

What Actually Happened

The octopus had something different in mind. When he realized that he was not going to be successful pulling the fish out of the bottle, he decided to apply another attribute of his species — his brute strength.

Our octopus literally pulled the pacifier portion off the bottle. This allowed him to get access to the fish.

It also demonstrated to us that octopuses are able to gauge when strength trumps finesse. To give you an idea of how difficult it is to pull the pacifier off such a bottle, the human handler was unable to replicate the same action.

Brains and muscle can be a real sexy combination.