Hell-Raising Octopus Juggles Crabs And Knocks Out Aquarium Power By Shooting Water At Lights

A naughty octopus at the Sea Star Aquarium in Coburg, Germany, has made quite the name for himself.

Otto the 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.



Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

Staff believe that 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, who decided to take shifts sleeping on the floor to find out what caused the mysterious blackouts.

It was on the third night they discovered it was Otto.

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 imagine this is the kind of stuff a more advanced species would write about us.