Can an Octopus Count - Viewer Request

[@zebra3stripes]

Human: I'll randomize the side with the most crab so that the octopus doesn't see a pattern. Octopus: I'll randomize which trials I get correct so that the human continues the experiment and has to buy more crab.

[@anti-victimGenX]

I was going to suggest where there are multiple crabs on offer in each end, perhaps the octopus chose to go with law of averages, "I'll definitely get one out of 5, rather than maybe miss both of 2". Same with 6/4. When it came to a 4/1, perhaps the single crab was going to be easier to concentrate on, and gain success. Keeping in mind, where the octopus seemed to select an end out of curiosity, near the end of the video experimenting ... It had already been taught that he wasn't going to be permitted any of the crabs at all - so it didn't really matter if he applied logic, instinct or "counting" of possibilities.

[@danbraun3780]

I wouldn't call it "counting"; I'd call it "distinguishing more from fewer."

[@tipatc666]

Well said. I agree.

[@RobsWorld]

Yeah, yet there's no way to tell what they're thinking. But they are probably able to differentiate and somehow count them to some extent because distinguishing between 4 or 6 is pretty close.

[@cormacb2326]

That in itself is a form of counting.

[@Morristown337]

I believe that after the first couple of rounds that he realized he can not get to the crabs and was just trying to do what he believes might get him a reward treat.

[@dougal445]

is this "counting" or just a recognition of "more" and "too much"?

[@joegillian314]

It feels that way to me. I don't know how you would show that an organism can count. I think if you can should that they can distinguish between individuals, crabs in this case, that might show that they can count, Because if they can keep tract of multiple crabs and remember each one individually, I think it means that have to be able to count at least as high as the number of individual crabs they can remember. Does this make any sense?

[@screamingmimi90]

I was wondering the exact same thing. I think it would be interesting to see if the octopus can put objects in order of number. I’ve seen them do things I thought were impossible, so that doesn’t seem like much of a stretch. But how? Maybe first confirm that they know the concept of quantity and quality? Like give pegs of different colors and vary them by number. For example: 1 yellow peg, 2 green pegs, 3 red pegs, 4 blue pegs, and 5 purple pegs. Then give him/her a board with 25 holes in it. Have him/her put the pegs in the holes by color. Repeat with different objects, and vary the number of each color. 1 blue ball, 2 purple balls, etc, and give a plate with 25 depressions in it. Have him/her put them in rows by color and number. Then graduate to all the same color, but a different number of objects. Of course, you would have to up your ante in the reward category. 😁 I haven’t though too much about this, nor have I seen all your experiments. Maybe this overlaps with something you’ve already done, and if so, I apologize. I do love these creatures, though!❤️ EDIT: it just occurred to me that what I am describing is organization, not necessarily counting. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Zwerchhau]

Parrots have been shown to be able to add small quantities such as 2+1 to request a specific number of food they like, but Octopuses can't talk so...

[@Circlewisewoman01]

dougal445 Exactly my thought.

[@anonamuss1604]

Same here. More crabs etc = more food. Probably an evolutionary survival ability to go for more food rather than less. Still smart.

[@rockingpinaple]

4:08 I love how the crab, from a sort of frantic tap dance, stopped dead in his tracks for a good moment like "shi- am I in trouble?", and then when the octopus turned out to be chill he just peacefully continued to have a seizure against the glass. So wholesome.

[@jennyaldrich7456]

Haha love your comment.

[@DaffneyDalilah]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 You have just won the best comment ever award 🏆

[@screamingmimi90]

🥇best comment

[@jeffreywillstewart]

Time for Crabolab! Lol!

[@nod_jawk]

Octopus : "More crabs there, I go eat them - but can't eat them because of the glass. _ New situation. More crabs on the other side, I go eat them - but can't again. _ A new one, and again can't eat the crabs where they are more. WTF, human ? _ New one. OK human, I understand, the game here is to be clever enough to go where there is less crabs but we can eat them. I go try this new strategy. Agh, can't eat them. Always this glass. _ New one. Let's try the second strategy another time, to be sure. I go for the less crabs. No, still can't eat them. So going for the less crabs isn't working either. _ New one. OK let's get back to normal strategy, at least if I succeed I will get many crabs. There are glass everywhere, so never mind, let's go to the more crabs place."

[@jennyaldrich7456]

Hahahahaha yup

[@Sonoembee]

This is also my opinion. Change strategy to see if results improve. I hope the octopus enjoyed some crabs eventually!

[@warrenprice2137]

Had the same thought. He went to the bigger number multiple times but failed to gain entry. So, he changes his strategy. Couldn't get through every time he picked the bigger number. So, he tried the smaller number. And by the end, he seems to be losing interest. Really interesting. Nothing conclusive, but it sure seems like it warrants study. I don't think I'd bet against that octopus in terms of his ability to figure things out.

[@ivarhakuse8572]

I thought something similar

[@kbowler9266]

Are crabs dangerous in a bigger group? Maybe the octopus didn't want to risk it.

[@elly840]

yes, they are. i watched a video with an octopus surrounded by many many crabs . He probably died, as there was no escape from that situation.

[@anti-victimGenX]

Octopus are the natural predator of crabs. They will always scatter away from the sight of them, never attack. If there were a number of crabs surrounding an octopus at some point, it would be because the octopus was close to death. Once dead, the crabs would have done what they're instincts and habits tell them - clean up the ocean floor of any dead/decaying animals/flesh. Very similar to vultures hanging around for an injured bovine to finally die. So no, there will not have been a collaboration of crab minds, to plan to attack an octopus. It just doesn't happen like that.

[@kingsavageson4879]

Same thing I thought. Hes got to have the arms to be able to deal with the situation safely or he may become a meal for THEM.

[@kingsavageson4879]

​@@anti-victimGenXHe can see that theres nowhere for them to scatter to...

[@anti-victimGenX]

​@kingsavageson4879 Actually, he doesn't "see" the glass, and doesn't recognise "they have nowhere to go". If you see in the first test, octy went for the line that he could see, in what we humans recognise as a join/corner. He went full pelt, and squashed himself in the corner, because he didn't recognise that the "line" was actually the edge of a see-through barrier going the width of the tank. (Proof of that is the fact that in the later tests, it started to stretch a tenticle out first, to see if it had been duped again.) When there are numbers like 3 vs 5, 5 vs 6.. he will go for the more targets - his brains tell him statistically, he's likely to catch at least one, with a higher concentration of targets, even when he knows he's going to be distracted by the others in the same chamber. When it's a test of 1 vs many... he recognises that even knowing there will likely be that invisible barrier again, he can concentrate on that single crab if he manages to "beat the barrier", without the distraction of many crabs on top of the task. They are incredible creatures, yes they logic out motion and statistical odds for the purpose of feeding. They're main downfall is the female when breeding. She will have one clutch, and starve herself caring for them. In all honesty, if nature hadn't dealt the octopus that harsh deal when multiplying - I believe we humans would be stuffed!

[@marounazou8198]

That s my request!!!!🥳🥳🎉🎉🎉 I am so happy! OctolabTv is the best channel ever!!! I m gonna forward this video to all my friends! What a cool video as well! I was almost sure that your clever octopus will make no mistake...What an interesting outcome...

[@anthonyhargis6855]

The octopus is simply choosing the easier/safer meal. We see this in nature all the time. The answer is obvious.

[@joegillian314]

Battle 1 crab vs battle 5 crabs... I know which one I'm picking If they kept doing 1 crab vs an increasingly larger number of crab and see how much it goes for the 1 crab maybe that would show the octopus is choosing the safer option?

[@dismian7]

Everytime he goes to the side with the most, give him a cookie. I'm sure he will have no trouble counting.

[@ayranarruda]

I was just thinking about it, I study Artificial Intelligence and I believe that maybe the octopus after too many rounds without be rewarded he is right on try a different strategy.

[@mikimiki1634]

Octopuses cant eat cookies or chocolate

[@gpt-jcommentbot4759]

@@mikimiki1634 i think we all know that

[@Maaad-maaan]

Rather than counting prey, maybe have them count the number of times a light flashes before they get a treat or something. Then see if they can do addition by increasing the flashes by one each time, starting with one.

[@cordeliah1992]

This would be a great idea! I think it would be more of looking for a pattern though not really counting per se. But this would be cool to see!!

[@godqueenbidoof]

I wonder how many times you need to try an experiment before the octopus realizes it's a test and whether they would begin actively screwing with you from then on.

[@dazlolkaitis4978]

You need underwater octopus friendly touchscreen technology and teach them how to request for things.

[@GenderWoman666]

Great idea :) I agree.

[@benmiller5015]

Might be the smartest comment that'll be posted on this video. That's a great idea. I wanna see Rudy play some angry birds lol

[@DaffneyDalilah]

LMAO!! He’d probably do better than me at Angry Birds. Can we put one in each aquarium to see how they all do playing against each other in Fortnite?

[@screamingmimi90]

🤣🤣🤣

[@evilgibson]

Wasn't this test just comparing the difference of less and more? Same test setup with a door that can be locked or unlocked between the glass partitions. The locks should use mechanics that cannot be seen to lock them (like magnets or some such). Keep the door high on the glass so octopus can always see the full number of crabs. Pick a number of crabs that will be rewarded. The number should be considered as something the octopus can easily kill and eat in one sitting. The number picked will remain the constant and will always be behind an unlocked door. The number of crabs behind the locked door can be anything not the constant number. If the octopus can count, then the subject should first attempt to open the door/gate to the crabs of the constant number picked. Then for the last test, we can confirm it is counting (after a good number of trainings) by leaving both gates open with the constant number and a number MORE than the constant and see if it will still head off to the picked constant number of crabs.

[@screamingmimi90]

Remley please educate me as to why that is a bad analogy. I’m not trying to pick a fight, btw, I just want to know more about what you mean. I find this whole thing fascinating.

[@floydhathaway8959]

I was thinking along the same line ,to count you need a number . Different from more or less.

[@cormacb2326]

Finding a difference between less and more, especially when its 6 and 5 is counting.

[@helgafalckenberg6635]

He learned that he cant reach them, so why should he make any effort?

[@OleGeezerCirca1941]

I can imagine the octopus thinking to itself and is blocked by the divider from getting a crab, "Force field! Force Field!"

[@pl5bnsf]

Please post a behind the scenes video. What is the setup for them when not on camera? How do you transfer them between tanks, etc?

[@sandyjamison5929]

He seemed disinterested with the 2 he got "wrong" like he was bored or didn't want to "play". Just a thought 🙂 Take care and stay safe everyone! 💖🐙

[@lindak8664]

The octopus went to the side where there were more until there was too many. You can see there are more without actually counting them and your goal was ‘can an octopus count’. I say, inconclusive, but adorable 🐙

[@colettes9758]

Hello! I love to watch fish eat and maybe you could show them eat a crab and show what part is left over that they don't eat. You could show them eating all kinds of stuff. At the same time you could show us every octopus you have with their names and maybe a bit about each of their personalities. I WOULD LOVE IT!! This is a cool channel! Thank-you! 🕊❤🕊

[@randalrand]

Poor hungry octopus. I hope you fed them those yummy juicy crabs when the experiment was over.

[@erikjarandson5458]

One of the problems with IQ tests is that subjects with a higher IQ than the test is calibrated for may consider more factors than anticipated. The octopus first went for the higher number of crabs the first several times, each time finding its path blocked, and then for the lower number. It's possible that it was checking if there was a correlation between number of crabs and the blockage, or had no specific theory, but simply decided to abandon the initial strategy for a more investigative approach. It also struck me that it might be guided by scent, sound or movement, which will often, but not necessarily, be determined by the number of crabs.

[@georgegoertzen4723]

I think he didn't get rewarded for first few trys so he rethought the experiment and tried the single crab. Upon not getting rewarded that time, he again, ever hopeful, tried the single but curled up rather dejected upon running into the barrier. On the last try, he went for the larger number, even though they were fairly close in number. I think if he were given a reward for choosing either or everytime, it might be a better determination of whether he can see which is the greater or lessor dependant on reward choice.

[@catandcaboodle6492]

I think he absolutely knew what he was doing....even if we didn't!😆😆 Just brilliant. The animal world is so much more incredible, magical and intelligent than we can possibly imagine. Yay! 🤗🐙🐙

[@julie6092]

You can see him totally assessing the situation when he comes out of his house. He has that brief moment before choosing, both of his eyes take in each side of the tank simultaneously (1 looking on each side). I agree he went for the 'sure thing' with 1 crab. An easy meal is better than perhaps no meal!

[@ryvvolting7733]

Hell yeah they can count....on me always loving them 😌

[@benmiller5015]

Dudes like ouch there's glass. Then he figured out he wasn't gonna get that second crab that was by itself so he was more chill about it but seeing that 6 n 5 at the end he was like man my stomachs grumbling let's eat! N boom smacks the glass again. Always love seeing you guys post a video on these amazing animals. How's my boy Rudy been doin?

[@maujaxa]

It's like the octopus has been stopped by the barrier all the "correct" times and starts trying to figure out what the game/puzzle is cus as far as he knows, he's failed to get the tasty crab each time. I don't think he started getting them wrong because he failed to count, but because he remembered the barrier each time, so he tried something different. Honestly, I think octopi are so smart that they think we're dumb! :D

[@CopalFreak]

Interesting! Not sure if they can 'count' but might be 'less vs more' kind of things.. certainly a thought process and a plan.. predatory instinct? many vs only one.. all alone.. vulnerable.. and tasty. 2 to 4 is ok cuz .. ya know.. 8 legs... 2 vs 10, would make sense to go for 2, where as 2 vs 4, it would make sense to go for 4 for better food-ops vs risk of loosing a leg or eye. Might be interesting to see 4-5 little crabs vs 1 and 2 huge ones. (different experiment really , but would be cool). Thank you Marou Nazou for requesting this and thank you Octolab for taking the request!!

[@judimcleod235]

I think he/she got it right the first few times but when he/she didn't get a reward, he/she tried a different approach: "ok, I get nothing when I choose the 'more' side so instead I'll choose the 'fewer' side." Poor thing was probably hangry by the end.

[@ThePrufessa]

If cuttlefish can count then octos definitely can count.

[@jasonblalock4429]

I wonder if the Octopus started to get frustrated by the barriers constantly being in place. We know they're puzzle-solvers, and accustomed to being tested. He might have been deliberately exploring the parameters of the test, looking for a hidden solution to the problem of how to actually get at the crabs.

[@MalaysianTropikfusion]

Could you try this out: Give him/her a bell. The kind you use on cashier countertops. Teach him/her how to use it to ask for food/etc.

[@joncrane7661]

Maybe there was something about the singular crabs that they found fascinating. Not necessarily counting here...

[@jenhamilton1962]

If the first several times I went to the side with more crabs but was prevented from catching them due to the plexiglass, I might then try the side with fewer crabs to see if the side with fewer were more accessible. To me, it could be that the octopus could count quite well, but rather changed the strategy out of frustration.

[@owenmerrick2377]

Like you, I'm sure they can; but how to convince them to demonstrate!

[@MstresVampy]

Part 2 definitely..but from what I observed closer numbers equal better odds w larger groups vs opportunistic behavior. The singled out crab might have better odds apparently.

[@anitababacsi]

No doubt. A Smartopus can count. ❤️️🐙❤️️🐙❤️️

[@janet8496]

Wow. They can count! If just right for eating or too many and not safe. Naturally they would need to know, so, of course, counting is a must. Sooo smart. 🐙 and adorable 🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡

[@definitelynotadream2617]

maybe he was asking himself "how hungry am I feeling today? hmm... 5 crabs is too much, maybe I'll just have the one..."

[@RobsWorld]

I think maybe like the sea rays go after single crabs that have been separated from the group (or slower ones that have molted), the octopus may feel he has a better chance of just going after that one crab that's by itself. Interesting experiment though. Can octopuses recognize color, I thought most are actually colorblind (which is interesting because they are able to blend in with their environment)? If they can, perhaps try the tube experiment again (with the fish they can't see at the bottom), but put it in a specific colored tube. Then you can move the tube each time to see if he associates the fish being in a specific color one and keeps going for it.

[@louise9973]

I hope you beautiful octopus has another tank that filed with all the things that make an octopus happy. Experiments are interesting and we learn a lot so I hope it's rewarded. Interesting channel. I've enjoyed it.

[@grapestheoriginal]

This isnt counting, it's just knowing the concept of more vs less.

[@Morristown337]

After the first couple of tries Im pretty sure he realizes that he can't get to the crabs and is just trying to give you an outcome that brings reward.

[@richardlynch5632]

Perhaps he grew weary of this and was telling you..."OK , I'll settle for just one of these delicious morsels".

[@TheAcquibajo]

I love your videos! So interesting. I wonder if sometime you could describe the anatomy of an octopus? Thank you. 👍

[@papamike9866]

I agree with the response below. It's about "more" verses "less", larger verses smaller. That's not counting.

[@Psychobablishous]

Octopus: "Geez, each time I attempt to head toward the larger meal, I am blocked by this hard, clear, wall thing. Well, maybe they'll let me eat the single crab?"

[@JadeDragon407]

Perhaps try again with small fish (safer meal) and see if that changes. I don't blame the fellow for wanting to opt for 2 pinchers instead of fending off 10 or 12 hehe. It'll be interesting to see how this progresses.

[@geraint8989]

After picking the 'correct' side and encountering a screen instead of tastiness, maybe he thought the idea was to choose the opposite choice to get actual tasty crab...

[@ChanWalrus]

I think the octopus was considering what would happen if it went for less

[@Zekiran]

I definitely think that it was a safety versus reward situation with that 5:1. Was wondering if that would come up.

[@moonstonedreamer_8878]

Incorrect the first time: Didn’t want to risk it. Incorrect the second time: Not feeling like eating crabs.

[@BobT36]

After he kept going for the single crab, should have notched it back down to smaller numbers to see if he once again went for the bigger group. Would repeat the initial experiments and identify if there's a safety threshold.

[@doloressanders3824]

Maybe he's not so hungry. So he goes for the one.

[@woodlandcritterpunch]

Here's an idea for a more robust test: Give them a box with some number of dots on it, and put some food under the box for them to find. Repeat this scenario, but this time add another box with a different number of dots on it, but don't put any food under the new one. Maybe repeat this a couple of times, just to be sure they notice the pattern of the box with initial number of dots always having food. Then add another box with another number of dots, again without any food under it. Keep adding boxes with new numbers of dots, and see how consistently prioritize the box with the initial number of dots.

[@pixietwitch]

I really hope you gave him some crabs after this. Poor frustrated guy!

[@AGDinCA]

Why is the assumption being made that the octopus will always choose the larger number of crabs? Since they can only eat one at a time, and don't store their food, I can't understand why this assumption was chosen.

[@zdenshadowdragonbyzideodi8819]

Where my octolings at?

[@polymita]

Maybe he realized there was only one crab and wandered where the others went.

[@jaxonmurtagh3265]

Evolutionary perfection

[@theapocilip]

They don’t care about 4 crabs vs 5 crabs. They Just want to catch the first crab they can get

[@riverratt101]

The octo going for 1 instead of a bunch looks like it had its tentacles nipped a few times and didn’t want it happening again

[@nachannachle2706]

Beautiful. I so

[@robertdaniel6044]

I think what the octopus learned after many iterations, is that he cannot catch the crabs. Maybe he reasoned that if I go after one, the glass barrier will not be there and I can succeed.

[@davebartosh5]

Try having some doors or portals, each marked clearly with a number of large, black circles. The door with a certain number, say three circles on it contains food. See if our friend recognizes that three leads to food.

[@jaynedavis3388]

In order to be sure that they are counting & not just looking, you should keep the difference between the groups with only 1 extra. Visually it’s much easier to spot a difference in group sizes when there’s 2 extra. To know they’re actually counting, you need to do like 6 & 7 or above. That way the groups of crabs will more easily appear even & if the octopus is consistently going to the larger group, then you know they can count. The only reason this doesn’t work with a food source as the counted groups is that the octopus may not be very hungry & therefore choose the smaller group

[@annekabrimhall1059]

That’s just telling if there are more or less crabs not how many there are! Teach him to press a button to get a treat. Then if he pushes the button more times he gets more treats. I don’t know if he can associate the numeral with the quantity but it’s worth a try.

[@dalelange845]

He chose logically... chaos management by attempting to eliminate the outlier first thus leaving the remainder all at one end of the tank where they could be more easily managed. Very smart especially considering the rather large disparity. He factored into his decision extra variables that changed his choice. Possibly showing a self awareness of his own abilities and avoiding a situation akin to a human attempting to herd cats. Lol. A bird in the hand is worth ten in the bush.

[@dimduk]

You should try this with fish.

[@purplealice]

It appears to me that the octopus doesn't actually *count*, but he perceives a difference in the SIAE of the group of crabs

[@keatonblackman472]

Smartest Animals Ever!

[@tim40gabby25]

Attraction to movement could explain all choices made, thus thus could be a 100% score to a different question, only approximately associated with numbers.

[@althomas2772]

Maybe the octopus was choosing a side with more (or less) motion (or sound) from the crabs. Some crabs seemed much more active than others. Possibly, after being unable to get at the more numerous crabs, he tried the side with fewer crabs to see if he could get at them.

[@gilbertvelasquez3916]

Its trial and error. Lots of thinking and rethinking

[@콜라캔스]

I think if we mark spots on each sides with no crabs, and reward him with a crab if he chose a bigger number, he will soon understand what we're doing and we can check if he can count.

[@craigmooring2091]

You bet it was inconclusive! A) This test does not even address whether the Octopus can count. At best it only addresses whether it can distinguish' more' from 'fewer'. A counting test would involve testing whether it recognizes that a marble has been added to or taken from a group of identical marbles or transferred from one group to another. 2) Who knows what 'criterion' or 'criteria' entered into the octopus's 'decision'. The first time the critter went to the single crab instead of the many, I thought it might be because the lone crab was tight up against the corner of the wall and divider where experience has shown there is usually a skinny gap a tentacle can get through. (Snag the crab quickly, crush it, pull parts through to eat.) I suggest training the octopus by rewarding it for moving a marble from a pile to a box. Then reward it for transferring a marble to a specific box. Then reward it for transferring 5 and only 5 to a blue box, and 3 but only 3 to the yellow box, etc. Then change the number of marbles in the different boxes and reward the octopus for restoring the proper number to any of the boxes. If color is too hard for them to distinguish, the boxes could be various textures, sizes, or materials. This would have to be a series of videos given the duration you seem to prefer.

[@xifanie]

My idea is just to have two sides, one with say, 4 big red dots, and the other with 1 to 8 big red dots. The dots would be randomly organized (to counter pattern recognition) and only the side/door with 4 dots would lead to a reward. This would probably take several tries for an octopus to learn but I'm sure they can manage.

[@abracyoung1982]

Maybe he was going over to the one crab so it wouldn't be alone.

[@lauriedmills7581]

Interesting. Seemed the octopus learned it wouldn't get the crabs perhaps?

[@skg901]

You could have made it press button some n times to reveal a food reward. E.G. press a button 5 times to get reward. Not 4 or 6 times. Exactly 5 time. Also the reward must be kept away from the button, so that the Octopus cannot just press once and check if it was released...

[@alisonmary1443]

Octopus eat crab, right, I thought Octopus was displaying empathy with the solitary crab lol 😀

[@alterego6830]

Movement catches the eye and attention. I don't think he even understood there were more crabs. I think he just noticed more movement in general but not that there are more crabs.

[@cassiekay8633]

Maybe "incorrect" is the wrong word ? Maybe its 'correct' according to the octopus as one crab is easier to track and trace and focus on when compared to a very busy moving bundle of 5 or 6 crabs ?

[@HD-vu9wn]

Does anyone know where to buy that ceramic octopus eye?

[@elizaengen4141]

there is a vid on this channel.

[@dametryable]

As far as Counting goes I would try giving him a choice of 5 different treats each with a different number of dots under it. In the tank i would put a tray and several marbles all identical. Now at this point you while need to feed him with the number of marbles in the tray first that corresponds to what your feeding him for about three days on the fourth leave the marbles out of the tray and see if he starts to pick the food that he wants

[@markuskrypton604]

Human already fails in the 3rd round! / Setup: ... "Make sure that the larger group of crabs is placed on a different side each time." / Groups: 1 - 2, 4 - 2, 6 - 4, ...

[@_22years]

Hope you reach 100k

[@InYourFaceNewYorker]

It’s clear that the octopus understands “more”. Doesn’t necessarily means it’s actually counting.

[@Charlie-Em]

It went after the safer meal for sure.

[@claraconlan6557]

I don’t think you can say the octopus was wrong. We don’t really know what his motivation was.

[@TALON-7]

Where was the incentive/reward for the octopus to choose the greater number of crabs? It would appear the experiment has desensitized the octopus from making any choice. Recommend replacing the crabs with similar looking objects (e.g. cubes), then place 1 crab in each partition. Each divider has a door. The door to the divider with the greater number of objects can be opened by the octopus, while the other door is locked. The doors must appear similar or the octopus could recognize a locked door from an unlocked door. The octopus must select the side with the greater number of like objects, open the door and receive the reward (e.g. crab snack). It will take several attempts to conditon the octopus to recognize the connection of the number of objects to getting access to the reward.

[@WaveOfDestiny]

I wouldn't choose that many crabs, they hurt and a few are enough for a meal anyway

[@ThePrufessa]

I'm pretty sure orcas can count so I gotta believe octos can too.

[@ellielef]

I think he evaluates the situation each time under different prism. Many-more, they are many in both cases so lets increase the possibility of catching as many as possible, damage is a risk he will take in both cases. One-many, lets choose the safest meal, cause in many he might have some damage. One-two, they are few in both cases, so lets pic two to increase the possibility of catching one.

[@QuesoCookies]

It seems like it never changed its mind or evaluated both options. It just always went for whichever side it saw first. You should do a control to see if this is the case by making both sides equal several times and seeing which it chooses when counting isn't a factor and see if it ever changes its mind or tends to look both ways before making a decision or if it does go after whichever option it sees first.

[@DDGenes]

"Correct"? The octopus doesn't know what the task is. This isn't counting.

[@alexontheedge]

1) Does he get a "reward" of a crab from going to the larger number of crabs? 2) Even if he went to the larger group every time, it only proves he can conceive of "more" and "less". What if you showed him a tank with 4 crabs in it, then hid the octo & quickly removed 2 crabs. Would he "look" for the other two when you put him in the tank?

[@benjaminhenderson7059]

Maybe the octopus realized it wasn't getting the crabs because of the glass by the 5th time and wanted to see if maybe it could actually get into the other side. After all, you just teased him with a meal he can't get 4 times. Is it super surprising he didn't repeat the pattern a fifth time?

[@iandavis518]

It seems that, with multiple groups, Oct will opt for the larger group for the chance of a larger meal; perhaps because chances of injury are roughly the same and odds of eating are way better. In the case of one vs. many, the safer easier to target crab is sufficient.

[@iandavis518]

I would add that it seems like Oct is being patient in this test. Rewards await afterward I would assume.

[@nmenme4446]

I believe it was conclusive. They can count, but were not able to reach the crabs of higher numbers so it went for the lower number. If they cannot eat them, then this is useless to most people. Reward has to be available.