Curious Octopus Explores Different Surfaces - VIEWER REQUEST

How does an octopus react to different types of surfaces? Does he prefer a certain surface over another? This observational experiment was requested by Daffney Dalilah.
"Do octopuses prefer some kinds of textures over others? It would be interesting to see if their reactions to objects is perhaps partly influenced by how it feels. And do different octopuses have different individual preferences as to which texture they favor?
The Setup of Your Experiment Have 3 blocks of the same size and color, but each with a different texture (soft and fuzzy, smooth, bumpy). They would need to be heavy enough to sit at the bottom of the tank, but light enough to be picked up by the octopus. Line each one up in the tank, leaving enough space between each one so that the octopus can explore each one by touching it, playing with it, etc..
Keeping each object the same shape, color, size and weight would show that they are only showing different levels of interest to different objects based only on their texture. To further demonstrate that there are no other variables influencing behavior, the blocks would need to be placed in a different order each time to rule out the possibility of them giving preference to any certain one based on placement. "

[@Sharonmxg]

Octopus is like, "well none of this is food, but the plushie feels nice."

[@GenderWoman666]

He was totally like that xD

[@sazikanebaldimor2386]

it was probably the most alien to him. so thats where he went to attack first. it was certainly some. lets try this for food move

[@DaffneyDalilah]

💗OMG THANK YOU OCTOLAB!! 💗 🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙 I was so excited not only to see that you did my experiment, but that my favorite boy Arnold was chosen! Seeing him hug and cuddle the plushy block was just too adorable!! 😍🥰 But nothing can replace his beloved barrel! It’s amazing seeing how much personality these creatures have. 🐙💕🐙💕

[@Felineblood]

How do u know it was Arnold ?

[@YTSharkspeare]

Congratulations on having your experiment chosen! It was a really great idea. I loved watching the octopus "cuddle" the plushie too. While it wouldn't be scientific to assume that animals experience the same feelings we do when we cuddle a plush toy, it's that kind of interesting observation that keeps our interest in science alive, and drives awesome experiments.

[@DaffneyDalilah]

Sharkspeare - THANK YOU!! Yeah, I got a little caught up in the cuteness aspect when I wrote that comment. I’m very curious to know how much influence their sense of touch has on their behavior. Are there certain textures that they associate with as a possible danger or sense of security? The fuzzy texture I thought of to represent the stringy alga that is often found on rocks and the shells of clams and muscles. I wonder if he associated that texture with a good hunting or hiding spot?

[@DaffneyDalilah]

Carolyn Scott - He was in his little barrel

[@DaffneyDalilah]

Gidget - THANK YOU so very much!! I thought that it might help portray the octopus in a more relatable way, especially for kids.

[@SCBetaRS]

It looks like the fuzzy block was the most interesting to touch.

[@carrollkuemper]

I expected them to pick it up and take it back to the barrel.

[@corwinschuerch6691]

I mean, what would you choose between a rock, a piece of cloth, and a ball of pure fluff?

[@lemeow332]

We have that in common

[@staceybradley8301]

It makes sense that the fluffy one is a new or rare texture and therefore most interesting. The bumpy one is like a sea rock and the tank is a smooth surface, things it already knows. I'm curious to see a broader variety of textures 🤔🤓

[@scottmiller4295]

possible there was food hiding in the fuzzy thing like a bunch of weeds in the wild especially the first time seemed he really dug into it with its fingertips looking for a snack.

[@NewMessage]

I wonder how he'd feel about a plush octopus.

[@Sopranohooper]

I think he would love it. Give the octo a furry friend.

[@iudex_Luke]

Probably most intrigued by the fuzzy one because the suction cups cant lock onto it

[@riphopfer5816]

iudex Luke That’s an interesting premise, and a good point!

[@delayedkarma488]

Kinda looked like it was forcing the fluffy cube into its nouth

[@archive881]

@@delayedkarma488 you're not that far off, octopuses not only feel with their suckers but can taste with them too!

[@SilentMingan]

Arnold: FUZZEH! I love that he almost completely ignored the bumpy block, though and just latched onto the fuzzy one.

[@fairiedragon999]

Arnold probably enjoyed the fuzzy block because it felt like a bed of sea grass

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

I do wonder if the octopuses are actually running experiments themselves. "What will the weird-looking creatures give to us today? I'm betting..." 😜

[@flanneryred5755]

Mandy, I would say you are right. They are doing note-taking of their own! lol

[@ildikokiraly9412]

Of course he does experiments by checking reactions of humans on his reactions

[@sazikanebaldimor2386]

wellwho knows. look inside the barrel and then you find inscript in alien letters his newest experiment on the landbreathers

[@davebartosh5]

It's initial reaction to the fuzzy block made me think it wanted to eat it. Wondering if it looks like a square sea-urchin.

[@vikkitaylor5469]

Arnold is male; not an "it"...

[@davebartosh5]

@@vikkitaylor5469 Indeed. My apologies to Arnold.

[@vikkitaylor5469]

No worries Dave! I'm applying to be Arnold's agent. He's trying to go public! 🐙

[@davebartosh5]

@@vikkitaylor5469 >;-)

[@brianpainter6620]

Arnold the Octopus: "Oh look just what I always wanted! A little black fuzzy box! I will name him George, and Hug him and Pet him, and Squeeze him, and Love him!!"

[@aiodensghost8645]

Loony Tunes

[@Sopranohooper]

And her shall be my fuzzy, and I shall call him George!

[@anitababacsi]

Arnold the Smartopus, Protector of the Barrels ❤️🐙❤️🐙❤️

[@ildikokiraly9412]

And the cat keeper

[@angeliner59]

Arnold went instantly for the fluffy block and really embraced it twice. Next examined the middle sized block but only for a short while. He couldn't even be bothered by the smallest one. My question is: was he intriqued by the feel or was he expecting food. I think both! Very enjoyable to watch!

[@jamestanzer9188]

I think the texture of the fuzzy block was what attracted him to it, as it was something completely new and different. The bumpy and smooth blocks he had 'seen' before, as they imitated items in his normal environment (rocks and his barrel), but there wasn't a reference point for the fuzzy block, so he didn't know what to make of it. That's why he kept going back to it, he wanted to understand this thing.

[@glennsanger2057]

Put a floating toy boat in the aquarium and "release the kraken" Also, the ISS has an aquarium on it. Has there ever been an octopus in space? Make Arnold an octonaut!

[@FlyTyer1948]

Researcher: Let us see if the octopus prefers one texture over another. Arnold: Okay they have different textures. So what! No food, no hiding places. Boring! Back to my barrel.

[@warmcozy]

Yeah, I think that's where Arnold was with this. Smart octopus.

[@Sopranohooper]

@@warmcozy and he pointed out the similarity between the smooth one and the wall immediately too. Did it more than once.

[@Mister_Matthew]

I love you guys, I was waiting for years to find a channel that does this. Awesome that y'all are the first full time octopus channel

[@XcaptainXobliviousX]

really seems to dig squishing the fuzz block. probably curious if he could find food in it.

[@_car5323]

It might have more "flavor" to it since its more likely to have absorbed environmental smells before immersion, especially with how important scent and taste are to how they perceive their environment.

[@SolarWebsite]

He probably thought it *was* food, at least at first.

[@nodigBKMiche]

XcaptainXobliviousX he seems to love glass, & the interesting texture...I am thinking he was looking for food too, as it is a different texture than the other two items. Gret job again 😀

[@ildikokiraly9412]

Or take out a little cat intestines?:):)

[@mirkom4599]

At the end - Arnold: Barrel, sweet barrel.

[@lindaway5889]

I very recently found this channel. Already I am in love with these adorable and very intelligent creatures! How could anyone be so cold and heartless as to eat them??

[@godqueenbidoof]

Is he aware that he's being observed? Does he act differently when he can't tell he's being observed? (I.e. Cameras are concealed somehow or there's no humans he can perceive)

[@danielmeyer6994]

Yes, they notice, but I don't think they know to be observed for learning about them, though. They clearly look at us and learn from us on the other side. There are studies, how octopusses in caption adapted to the happenings around the aquarium. They come out to watch TV and even chose certain program, what means, they stay on the glass and watch a certain show they are interested in and notice, if it's another not interesting and they lose interest. Octopusses are extremely intelligent and curious AND aware of their surroundings.

[@godqueenbidoof]

@@danielmeyer6994 I know of their intelligence and awareness, I meant more along the lines of like you said "Do they know they're being studied and do they change their behavior to affect what we learn from them?"

[@neuroinsect1944]

I think they are. They study things themselves, that's what this guy is doing in this video. So I think they would recognize that they are being observed for the sake of being understood. It's a mutual relationship, they study us as we study them.

[@LindaLuxable]

Do the lab people ever pick the octopi up? How long can they br out of water???

[@theclockworkknight1273]

@@LindaLuxable idk if they pick them up, but octopi can stay out of the water for 30 minutes tops. It also depends on things like humidity and the octopuses health and size.

[@MiSsUzBoSsLaDy]

Ridiculously interesting and incredibly intriguing to watch octopuses interacting with unnatural objects. Amazing, educational content! Huge fan.

[@timidsore7933]

Put in a non-toxic octopus replica or toy. Would be interesting to see the reaction.

[@GenderWoman666]

yes! With movable arms, which would be free to move in water :D

[@Cassiopea525]

They are pretty solitary and tend to fight other octopuses when they encounter each other in the wild.

[@SpitfiretheCat16]

@@Cassiopea525 They're also clearly intelligent enough to recognize whether something is alive or not; it'd be interesting to see what it would think of something that is, to it, essentially a detailed sculpture in its own image.

[@silivrengamer]

I think Arnold could have is entire own channel. Lol there’s something about how much he loves his barrel that’s very endearing. And now it’s interesting to see that he seems to like hugging a fuzzy block a little bit too. I thought it was so adorable how he chose to squeeze into his barrel full of blocks rather than take another empty shelter.

[@destinycircle8192]

Looks like he was way more interested in exploring the confines of the tank. And trying to find a way out of it.

[@laurensvandengraven8184]

This channel is going to blow up. Trust me

[@megachurro007]

I hope so

[@taylort219]

Lol yeah they got me hooked. Like why am i 2hrs deep into watching octopuses XD like never really thought much about them now im binge watching them

[@billywhyte6693]

Oooh - Daffney has a crush on Arnold 😋 .... Next experiment - put a light in his barrel (little warm white led). And put a identical barrel in opposite corner. See which he prefers 😉

[@Zekiran]

Really, REALLY loves that fuzzy one :D Others are like, "meh, rock. whatever. slightly fuzzy rock, whatever."

[@VeryEvilGM]

It liked furry things like we do!

[@nadinehackman2358]

Am I correct in thinking there probably isn't much that is fuzzy in the octopus natural environment?

[@Lara-gj1du]

Nadine Hackman - algae, mosses, anemone...

[@littlemrpinkness295]

I like my barrel best!

[@fredschmitz5270]

It seems that the Octopus is more interested in escaping his tank. Each time he heads for the surface.

[@flanneryred5755]

I also love watching them move around in these tanks as opposed to the ones I see living in the ocean. Its rare to see an octopus move the way these ones do! Out in the wild they cant move around so languidly. Nor can they go around with their arms all spread out like that! Its too dangerous! Its a real treat to see them like this!

[@hardcandy921]

Experiment idea: See if you can teach them basic language by showing them different words, with the word or symbol for treat containing an actual treat. After the learning period, they would only get one try to pick a word or symbol to search behind. Only one shot to get it right and find the treat. Will they remember the word, shape, or symbol for tasty treat, thus proving that they have capacity to learn some form of communication? If so, could build off these skills by adding descriptors for different kinds of treats (live shrimp vs shrimp, different edibles), to see if they recognize the symbols, if certain animals prefer certain treats, etc. They seem to be very food-motivated creatures, so this might help use that motivation to show what they can learn.

[@great-grandmakirk8828]

I have found a new love for octopuses and will never eat anything made from octopus.

[@DoubleDealingDisarray]

It's fascinating how it looks like he is pressing so hard on the plushie block to get a good feel of how soft it was. So-much-so, you can see the dips of where his tentacles are pushing. Awesome stuff!

[@jennaminniefield6747]

I love this channel. If it wasn't for Hank from "Finding Dory" I would never be here watching these amazing Octopus's. But at the end of this video it says that Arnold was not interested in the blocks. Why? He was really liking the fuzzy block. Anyways great job on this channel.

[@thoughtcriminal3843]

Does anyone know how an octopus sees the world? Do they see colour, can they differentiate low contrasts, do they hone in on movement?

[@danielmeyer6994]

Don't know for octopusses, but it's known for cuttle fish, that they are colour blind (what's odd, regarding their ability to change colours to their surroundings on will). Might be the same for their big brothers

[@elizabethharttley4073]

There is a color test video

[@thoughtcriminal3843]

@@danielmeyer6994 Thanks for the reply, that's very interesting.

[@GenderWoman666]

They surely see colors, because they have color code communication. How octopus would know that his partner is angry, if he couldn't see he change his color into purple or something :D

[@xMissPegasusx]

@@GenderWoman666 yeah I think so too - reminds me of how chameleons communicate with colour as well

[@Lrr_Of_Omikron]

I just found this channel and I gotta say, Daphne is freaking adorable. I honestly cant understand how someone could eat such a smart and cute creature.

[@clarascloset]

Arnold really prefers the fuzzy block

[@GenderWoman666]

I think he was thinking that the fuzzy block was some dead animal good to eat :D And when he got sure it's not for eat, he lost interest for it :P

[@helgafalckenberg6635]

Am I right, do they have their own well decorated tanks where they stay if no test is running? If so, I would be interested, if they would return by themselves to this “home tank” if they could leave the test tank?

[@patty7791]

How weirdly wonderful

[@pjp9383]

They do have different, more stimulating home tanks.

[@emmalappalainen6993]

Nobody knows, because this is a shady "organisation" running tests on animals based on youtube viewers' requests. Who even runs it, where is it located? How can we tell it's not just some dudes making money out of playing octopuses in a plain tank to entertain youtubers? 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@deniserocco2963]

I've been watching for awhile. I never would have imagined I would enjoy watching this. The music was much better in this video. It fits his movement. How about experimenting placing different size barrels, caves, rocks, or plants inside to see if he prefers a smaller, larger, wider, or flatter space to stay. I'm new to your channel so I don't know if this has been tried already. Thanks for sharing. They are amazing animals.

[@imlistening1137]

I can't think of anything in the ocean that would be fuzzy- how novel that must have felt!

[@anneclarizio8072]

I wonder if they have studied if the octopuses prefer one tentacle over another? Like us being one hand dominant over another.

[@GenderWoman666]

I wonder how funny was for him to feel something so different like that plush block :D xD

[@nicholashamilton1898]

What a fascinating, and smart creature. Please do a video reaction on the octopuse reacting to optical illusion.

[@laurieharnach8785]

I have a suggestion, we know Arnold loves his barrel to hide in. Put different objects of various sizes, such as boxes, tubes, jugs, shells, etc in the tank and let each octopus pick their preferred shape as their safe spot. It would be interesting to see if they gravitate towards one particular shape or configuration. That could be their Christmas or Thanksgiving present.

[@Kag001]

He went right to the fuzzy block the first time. Any theories on why? Did he mistake it for a hiding place for food? A threat?

[@jamestanzer9188]

Maybe because it was closer? I'd bet there would be a different result in they were rearranged.

[@anoyint]

The lack of speaking in the videos is great for doing long and tedious tasks to! I’m happy I found this channel!

[@alexontheedge]

Arnold thinks, "Huhmm . . . looks like my captors have added some stuff to this featureless pool they keep me in. Well, I'll just check the lid again to see if I can escape yet." Goes to the top & feels around. "Nope, still the same. Oh, well, I guess I'll have a look at these weird things." Embraces the furry cube. "Yes, I like this one. It feels like algae on a stone. Soft. . . . Guess I"ll check the lid again. Nope. Still can't get out." And so on . . . He swims to the top & checks the seal around the tank's lid 6 or 7 times. Maybe some day he will be free again.

[@stephanielarson6891]

Are sea urchins on their routine diet? Appeared to be searching for food in the fuzzy block - perhaps they thought it was an urchin. I'd be curious to see reactions using a different color on the blocks

[@tranquilrabies]

Whichever octopus is picking the awesome music on this channel wins.

[@Vidchemy]

Arnold Octo: What are these? They look the same but feel different. Wait, there's no food. [Swims to surface] Where's the food? Hmm, they moved the blocks around, what, do they think I'm daft? [Swims to surface] Hey, dude, where's the food? Man, this is lame! I'm outta here!

[@mmsmith1777]

He seems to really like the fuzzy block. I don't blame him. I love plush fuzzy stuffed animals. I wonder if he would like a teddy bear? 😃

[@EquiliMario]

Experiment: can Octopussee recognise shapes? Setup: have a small cube that can be lifted by the octopus and a wall with a similar shape. When the octopus inserts the cube in the hole he gets a snack. Increase difficulty by adding more shapes like pyramids, spheres etc and change the size of the hole (but keep only one hole)

[@riphopfer5816]

He really loves that fuzzy pillow!

[@sierrahestum8007]

Clearly Arnold prefers the texture of a barrel... 🐙

[@Caz1242]

I wonder which he'd prefer if you had a plush barrel or his own...

[@snatchadams69]

Learning that octopi do experience depression and will actively try to end themselves as a result...

[@meganheartswell]

What if Arnold had two identical barrels the old one and a new one. Which would he pick?

[@lesliesylvan]

The first was the largest, nearest and looked like a sea-urchin. Already disappointed in the first and thus, was disinterested in the others; no longer serving any immediate purpose . . . perhaps later, for a bouncy house!

[@jerrysizzler44]

Another great music choice! Not jarring or annoying.

[@gt4lex]

The way he went at the fuzzy one makes me believe he thought of it as some kind of prey, or an environment potentially containing preys. The unusual texture is probably what kept him checking on for a little while. He then went to check the smooth one then because I assume the perfect shape is not that usual for him but he quickly lost interest in it, probably thought of it as just a fancy rock. The last one was pretty much ignored, was probably just a regular rock to him.

[@merrymac9303]

pretty sure the question was, " SO, where is the food?"

[@kimtilton2816]

What octopus wouldn't love the soft fluffy one. :) Love these videos. So relaxing.

[@Kamari333]

i'm actually super curious if octopus make noises themselves...

[@conannilsen4935]

Have you ever tried using building blocks with them before? Would love to see you start with a pile of loose jumbo legos, use a crane to stack the pieces in place to build a wall. See if you can get the Octopus to learn how to stack blocks. I feel as though a crane would maybe look similar enough to the tentacles picking up pieces, that he may comprehend the action and mimic.

[@herbertotto4725]

Do they play? - check out "Can a teenager befriend an octopus?" - a 'Nature on PBS' video. Also "Octopus Dreaming" - omg !

[@jjscience2467]

He likes the fuzzy one the most

[@craigmooring2091]

It seems that at the beginning, the subject was not just uninterested in the lumpy one, but actively avoided it. Later he moved past it at a closer distance but only made incidental contact. It was as if he didn't trust it at first glance but after repeated exposure regarded it as harmless but, for whatever reason, was not going to have protracted close contact. Reaction to each of the objects was, it seems, distinct from the reaction to the others.

[@0ctopusComp1etely]

Between smooth, fuzzy, and bumpy blocks the winner was obviously... Barrel.

[@pebblesthecat3625]

We all know Arnold loves his barrel, but would the inside of the barrel make any difference as whether he prefers something soft, hard, luxurious or Spartan ? Get 4 more identical barrel's to his own, but line them with different interiors. In the 1st, some nice, fluffy, fur material. Some soft, squishy foam in the next. Hard, angular, sharp rocks in the 3rd. And lastly, a smooth bed of small, round pebbles. Will it make any difference as to where he wants to call home or not, and simply stay in his existing barrel after investigating the others? It would be interesting I think, to see if comfort is a thing octopuses consider when opting for a home ?

[@Incandescentiron]

Seemed fascinated with the fuzzy one, tentacles nestled into the fuzz trying to figure out what was underneath. That texture would be very different from anything in the ocean.

[@jessicaphoenix8841]

Love how he really dug his tentacles into the fluff, like we might run our fingers through hair or a fluffy pet :P

[@outsidersongs2682]

REQUEST: Have you ever tried the social fairness test? It would be very interesting in an animal that isn't social. This idea is based on the capuchin fairness test, where one capuchin kept getting cucumber rewards while the other kept getting grape rewards. They could see each other and got their rewards at the same time. The furious reactions of the cucumber gifted capuchin were interpreted as indicating a social understanding of fairness and justice ('Social inequality aversion'). But.... what if non-social octopuses reacted the same? Hand-feeding could be used instead of task rewards maybe. Choosing non social octopus species, both animals could be taught in advance to take an average appeal food reward from a red gloved closed hand because a blue gloved closed hand is always empty. Each time both hands are introduced into the tank for the octopus to choose from. Once the 2 animals are proficient in this, you can bring them to the divided test tank next day when they are hungry again. You then repeat the game, taking turns between each octupus, so they can see each other do the task, showing the reward first each time. One gets the average food reward still. The other gets an excellent food reward. After a few tries, observing the reaction of the unlucky octopus, you start giving the unlucky one a poor food reward while still giving the lucky one the excellent food rewards. Once the test ends, give the unlucky one an excellent food reward so they don't stay stressed (if it stresses them). (No live feeding please) www.nature.com/articles/nature01963

[@m.m.1503]

That one person that dislike it clearly doesn’t like octopuses.

[@cephalonplant4087]

Envy of having only two arms instead of 8 apparently

[@m.m.1503]

Daniel Vasconcelos haha

[@megachurro007]

or maybe dislikes human entertainment disguised or pretexted as experiments, if you pay attention, the animal is continuosly attempting to scape throughout all the videos in this channel, the tank is not properly decorated and I haven't seen any cientific conclussion for any of these "experiments", furthermore, have you ever seen a serious scientist asking for "experiments" in the comment section of a video?

[@theonecalledsec]

just needs a hug.

[@HalfShelli]

I wouldn’t blame him for losing interest; I feel like he did quite a thorough job checking them out! I wonder though, do you think he seemed to prefer the plushie because it felt more pleasant, or just because it was least like anything he had encountered before and so curiosity took precedence?

[@seguefischlin]

There are some interesting theories here about why the octopus preferred the fuzzy block. I think he was just intrigued by it because he couldn't 'see' beneath the surface. He was looking for food with his tentacles underneath the surface. Once he figured out that there was nothing 'hiding,' in the fuzzy block, he lost interest. it looked like synthetic 'fuzzy' so probably of no interest after that for this reason (probably didn't 'taste' good). A real fur thing would probably hold a little more curiosity beyond the texture because it would have an interesting 'taste.' Fuzzy is not unknown undersea; there are many 'fuzzy' things, most notably dead and decomposing fish, but also sea vegetables and anenomes and such.

[@laurieharnach8785]

You should do thought bubbles as he is going through these experiments. It would be funny to see what we imagine he's thinking

[@boomkruncher325zzshred5]

I wonder how they would interact with a tree? The idea is that you can take a small sapling that would be non-toxic to the octopus, and put the roots of the sapling in the tank. It would be interesting to see how the octopus would react with an object that doesn’t quite fit in its tank, and has a very different feel/texture than most flora in its natural environment!

[@boomkruncher325zzshred5]

Heck, even a branch with some leaves would be interesting to see their reaction!

[@gojiberry7201]

How about an octopus in an underwater ball pit? lol Seriously, like the other folks here, I see that he was really interested in the fuzzy one. It is so neat to see all his suckers and tentacles work to explore everything. I guess in the end it's all about the barrel, though

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

I think the takeaway here is that octopuses are curious creatures, but will eventually get bored if the new object doesn't do anything and isn't edible. Have octopuses ever displayed play behaviors?

[@elizabethgivens1968]

They seem to explore objects differently in different situations. The first approach they grab it with all of their legs/arms and interact with it the way they do with food. Do they also taste with their arms/legs? Almost as though they are first figuring out if they can eat it. Second time they commit one maybe two arms/legs. Maybe deciding if it has any use?

[@christina1wilson]

Use these threes "surface materials" to line a basket?

[@ezkl9424]

I can't decide if octopus move more like water flowing or wind blowing.

[@susanscovill6817]

I KNEW IT! Not even an octopus can resist a softy.

[@helltanner3722]

"I've seen bumpy rocks...I've seen bricks..but warm and fuzzy is new"

[@u.e.u.e.]

I think the plushy/furry was the most interesting for him. I also think a plushy octopus 🐙 can be interesting. It's just the question, if a plushy octopus and a plushy 🐞/🐢/🐨/🐘/🦖 of the same material and color makes a difference for him.

[@grammajo1889]

I wondered if they are. given names and the comments answered it for me. Arnold is delightful and plainly has his own personality.

[@MrJ6H]

Looked more interested in escaping

[@anna.m8]

The fuzzy one wins

[@piotrx5004]

Interestingly he grabbed that fuzzy block same way he hunts for food (all tenticles and rather fast move). I think I have even seen little color change, but I am not sure. I think he mistaked fuzzy block for an animal, grabbed it, teasted and decided it is not eateble. Then he just explored all blocks a litte bit, (still fuzzy was the most interesting of all, probably because his tenticles could not stick to it) but since nighter was food nor threat he lost interest in them and just returned to his berrel.

[@kempossibleprivateinvestig9998]

I was wondering if i saw color change too. But once he realized they were not food he no longer had any interest in them. Once rearranged he only gave them a cursory bit of touch....totally over it. I think he is insulted by tests like these. His bio clock is ticking....got food but no mate and captured by unintelligent creatures that have good locks... Poor guy wants a date!

[@valerieromeos2806]

Awe, who doesn't like to have a warm fuzzy something to cuddle 😉

[@hardcandy921]

Music choice was odd (sad brooding instead of bright and curious) and a bit too loud, maybe too much in the foreground. Love your channel though! 💚

[@maralehhansen1610]

What would happen if you lined the inside of a container with each of those textures? It seemed to really like the fuzzy one.

[@jenniferr.8143]

I wonder if there's a particular amount of fluff that the octopus prefers?? It would be interesting to redo the experiment with the three blocks havin lengths of faux fur varying from short to very long. I have a guess, and I'm so curious if I would be right.

[@purplealice]

Soft, furry/fluffy material doesn't feel soft or fluffy when it's soaked with water.

[@purplealice]

@Smileyrie James I have a faux-fur-covered pillow that fell into the bathtub, and when it was underwater it felt more or less flat. Although an octopus' sense of touch is probably more discriminating than mine.

[@kellyrenee77]

The first time the blocks were moved he made himself very big. Was that a fear reaction? To look big and intimidate the thing he's afraid of?

[@angiesima428]

Vous qui filmés le poulpe vous faites des expériences sur nous aussi c'est vraiment trop fort ce que vous faites !! Le poulpe regarde constamment la caméra cela donne l'impression qu'il nous regarde !!

[@zoebowdery2219]

Which octopuss is that is it Arnold or another one ps he or she loved the fluffy one it more cuddly but what he or she really loved is there barrel love all your cute octopuses hope the little girl octopus doing ok that was rescued from zoe in England I.o.w