Octopus Explores The Box of Mirrors - Viewer Request

In today's video, we'll watch Albert, our octopus, explore a box of mirrors. This was requested by one of our wonderful viewers.
The Request
I'd like to see how an octopus would react if he was placed in a room with many mirrors surrounding him.
The Setup
One way to set this up would be to place small mirrors all around the aquarium.
Hypothesis
I believe the octopus will try to hide from all the other octopi.
Instead of putting our octopus in a tank surrounded by mirrors, we chose to place a mirrored box inside a big tank. This gives the octopus a chance to explore the box on his own will and helps avoid any unnecessary stress.
Just like many of you, we expected a completely different outcome in this one. We thought a quick glance would be the extent of his exploration but he surprisingly entered the box of mirrors 3 times without much hesitation. The final time he entered the box, he stayed in there for a little over 30 minutes. He even felt comfortable enough to take a quick nap!
Thank you all for your unique ideas. We'll do our best to get to all of them!

[@riphopfer5816]

This octopus is an incredibly methodical thinker! He goes inside and explores, and his mind boggles at all the infinities he sees. He goes back out and measures the exterior with his arms. Then he pops back inside. He is now certain the exterior of the box is a finite height, but inside, it looks infinite. Because he doesn’t trust his eyes, he now measures the interior height with his arms. He then goes back out and measures the length of the box. He goes inside and measures it with his arms. Now, he understands it’s some kind of trick, and he relaxes, realising he can see everything in the box, and that nothing can hide in that infinite space. He DOES think it’s trippy, and it stimulates his mind, so he decides to hang out and enjoy the weird vibes. I dig this octopus. My kind of guy!

[@toroenigmatico6647]

Nice

[@amethyst1826]

Like entering the TARDIS!

[@Kzie100]

Very good analysis sir

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

I swear he's investigating it. He went out and checked around the sides of the box to examine it and try to understand how it works. 🤔 He also seems to find it amusing because he kept going back in. 😀

[@riphopfer5816]

I study ceph perceptions and communication, and I agree wholeheartedly. I wrote a quick summary of my behavioural analysis above. I think you’ll find it agrees with your hypothesis.

[@jmdesertadventures803]

It looks like he's confused about the other octopi in the box but he can't figure out how to get to them from the outside.

[@Ivegotnochoicesilencemyvoice]

This channel is amazing, and by making the mirror box separate to let octo make his own choice to enter instead of forced was awesome.

[@intercakefederation]

It’s sad to see an octopus trying to escape an uncomfortable place and trying to leave, I agree with this being much better

[@gitguuchisidetweedledeeand7200]

Octopi love puzzles

[@NewMessage]

"I dunno who those other guys were.. but boy, were they good lookin!"

[@americanjedi5952]

I thought at first he looked a little freaked and had to investigate it from the outside, to make sure it was a box like he thought, then he realized it was some kind of trick.

[@blueeyes6852]

That was very thoughtful for you to let the octopus decide on it's own, what it wanted to do. Allowing it to 'escape' back into familiarity was super! I noticed a little color change, not much.... sure makes one wonder what they're thinking! Thank you from Seattle, where we grow em' big! 😊🐙

[@mookyo9602]

This little fellow was enjoying himself! And I think I saw the moment he realized how good-looking he is! I agree!🐙😀✌

[@RIXRADvidz]

if I were left alone in a box/room of all mirrors, I'd pick a spot and just sit and meditate, like the Octopus did. Figuring out that infinite space isn't really infinite was very interesting to see.

[@erinorganic2597]

That octopus had a “Tardis” moment once or twice😁

[@riphopfer5816]

That was my first thought: ‘He’s trying to sort how it can be bigger on the inside!’

[@LooneyTiksCrap]

Yes, pretty much what I was thinking, lol. It's so much bigger (looking) on the inside.

[@thesidewalkmaster4925]

I’m surprised a channel this great doesn’t have a million subscribers

[@erikjarandson5458]

Of course the octopus was comfortable in the box of mirrors! It had never seen a more beautifully decorated room! By how comfortable it seemed, even on the first entry, I think it suspected the truth, right away. Maybe it has seen its own reflection before, in the tank glass? It still seemed to check the outside of the box, though, just to make sure there weren't any octopuses hiding there.

[@angeliner59]

I was thinking that besides seeing himself from all angles and realizing "Hey, that's me"! he was perhaps also enjoying the super smooth feel of the mirrors themselves. I was intrigued when he was hanging of the ceiling! But he definitely was enjoying it. Would like to see more with this mirror box and see if other octopuses react in the same way. We might be onto something here!😀

[@riphopfer5816]

That’s a GREAT point. I study cephalopod perceptions of the world, and while I think he was far less amused at seeing himself, I strongly agree that he probably was very into the profusion of shiny smoothness. I have noticed, over years of observations, that octopuses are mad for shiny and/or glossy and smooth, and even more specifically, optical gear. For some reason, they seem to hold convex lenses and mirrors in high-almost reverential-esteem.

[@DoubleDealingDisarray]

And it's really fascinating because it seems to show he has self-awareness, like corvids and apes. I think that's so awesome! 🥰

[@sandwitch4300]

He seemed to think it was fun because he chose to go back for another look👊🏻. I liked the choice of music 😎

[@BobT36]

Aw I like how you set it facing his den, too. So he could see it and go back in-case he ever felt scared.

[@marymaryquitecontrary]

That ceiling-cat hover at the end was interesting. Wish this had been longer.

[@drpravda]

Awww he got his very own little Funhouse ^^ ? He looks like he is digging this!

[@AramatiPaz]

Someone described this channel to me like "they anoy an octupos until it do something interesting". A funny description but I'm happy to see the octopus don't look annoyed at all.

[@vikkitaylor5469]

The first respone seems to be, "What magnificent creature is this!?" Leaves, goes back in and comes back out, "Wait! It's ME!" Leaves, goes back in, "Such a magnificent creature I am! I'll just hang with myself for a bit..."

[@RaivoltG]

Mirrors are trippy to an octopus! Pretty cool!

[@mortuaryartist]

In the end I think he trusts you with all these games

[@marounazou8198]

Cool lighting effects... Like a small disco club room inside the aquarium

[@lmlmd2714]

They're definitely trying to figure it out, looking behind and feeling all around the mirror. They're really thinking, investigating and testing it.

[@xtieburn]

Curious, I did read about how octopus fail the mirror test, but then thats hardly a bulletproof test of cognition. So, I wonder if the octopus, while not capable of recognizing itself in the mirror, is still cognizant that it is indeed a mirror/that there is no other octopus to be bothered by. - Some alternatives I can think of though: Perhaps octopus dont, or dont always fail the mirror test and what I read prior was incorrect. (I no longer have the source so I cant check.) Or perhaps Albert is just a very accommodating octopus, or managed to determine that the perceived nearby octopus was behind a sufficiently robust barrier to not be too bothered about it.

[@LooneyTiksCrap]

I think it was a good choice to make this a mirror box and not just surround the tank with mirrors. Not only do we get to see how the octopus reacts to mirrors on the inside, but the fact that it can leave and investigate the outside to figure out this mysterious box is interesting as well. You can just tell that it is trying to solve it.

[@PheonixArizen]

How about a dark room with different glow in the dark items, lava lamps, fiber optic light fountians, and any other luminescent item you can find.

[@kimcarriveau8266]

You can see his eyes and his head moving as he looks at his reflection all around the room. He checks the box outside and then peers halfway in to the box with the greater part of his body outside..Wonder if he knows it's him? Bet he does.. just saying..Love this channel!!!!

[@elizabethsnyder_baldonado39]

I believe Albert had it all figured out after the first couple of minutes...he just decided to play along with the gig. He might be wondering what the researchers will come up with next. Maybe...Albert is studying US... 😲👈🏾🐙

[@ridetheheckler]

I think he figured it out when he was half inside/half outside the box. It was an Ah-HA moment.

[@jeepfvr]

Great suggestion Elena L. He just HAD to keep checking it out. 😄 Funny how he'd leave then sort of sneak back in.

[@angeliner59]

I agree, he just had to go back for another look!

[@elysehernandez9861]

Quite the diva!

[@northstarsmith6798]

Hi, Albert! You looked like poetry in motion when you exited that mirror box. What a handsome octopus!

[@greenchairguy]

Awesome

[@orlaoto5794]

Octolab viewers: Mirrors. Octo: God, I'm f*@king gorgeous.

[@prettyp42]

They are sooo cute i wish i could pet them 🥰🤗🥰

[@thelimigi]

I think this octopus was (at different times) checking out the box to see if it led to anywhere else, checking out the surfaces and comparing the mirror to the tank glass, and third checking the level of the reflection between the glass and the mirror. I think he enjoyed the box because he enjoys being himself and has no problem with what he seen in the mirror.

[@venicelight1320]

Beautiful, amazing octopus!

[@codybentley284]

Hey Octolab, I'm a big fan of your channel and a big fan of the octopus as well! I wanted to make a request and see how an octopus would react to various toys for babies? Maybe things like rattles or one of those plastic dashboards that have different knobs and widgets? Knowing that the octopus is an animal known for it's intelligence and abilities to assess situations analytically, I think it would be really cool to see how one might react to items that are designed to invoke curiosity among babies and infants in humans....My hypothesis is that toys and gadgets designed to foster curiosity and interaction in babies/infants might garner some interesting results with the already child-like curious nature of the octopus as well. I think a rattle or maybe one of those small colorful xylophones would be cool as hell to see how an octopus would react. I'll leave the request open to interpretation in terms of safety, since that is not my area of expertise and I don't them to hurt themselves, but maybe a baby toy exists out there that an octopus can safely play with for our viewing entertainment. :D Thanks for your channel and your continued pursuits at letting us have a peak into the fascinating world of a fascinating creature.

[@existentialerasure]

He found a non threatening sense of community. If it realizes that it is looking at itself, it seems to have a certain spacial sense/ aesthetic joy.

[@thekingofjesters2368]

I found a channel that gives me a look at my favourite animal

[@Missfoxtooyou]

He’s going to a disco… it reminds me of the clubs I used to go to in the 90’s. 😂😂😂

[@blueparrot9552]

Seriously amazing!

[@veronicaquednau320]

THAT was really cool 😎

[@amethyst1826]

This would be great if it was made into a maze, too. For him/her to find little toys/treats on the way through to the other end!

[@brianegendorf2023]

Every time I see one of these experiments, I can kind of hear Ricky Gervais going, "Aw...whats he trying to put me through now?"

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

I wonder if it's because they learn to see themselves against the sides of their glass tanks? Some reflections, depending on the cleanliness of glass and water might look very real to them, so mirrors not be a shock?

[@xXOFrannieOXx]

Very interesting as always.

[@ThePrufessa]

This octopus is going to be questioning reality for the rest of its life.

[@riphopfer5816]

We have awakened him to the life -enriching and madness-catalysing studies of ontology and phenomenology! Oh, the discussions we could have......!

[@joedoe4628]

He notices the gap at the top of the box when he is outside, goes back in and peers out of the gap, when it looks like he is chilling out at the end.

[@cofi7612]

Who knows what's going on on his mind and to what extenct he understands how the box works. Fascinating

[@Jen39x]

Can’t really know what’s in his mind but he most definitely explores what he sees much like mammals do and that fascinates me.

[@riphopfer5816]

We can’t know, but we have catalogued enough octopus behaviour to get an idea of what he’s DOING-from that we might extrapolate a bit of what he’s possibly thinking. Whenever I want to sort what an octopus is thinking, i first decide whether the behaviour is emotionally or rationally motivated.Yes, of course there are usually elements of both, but I try to figure out how the behaviour fits in with the cephalopod mind’s most powerful drives. Here’s an excerpt from my own writing on the subject: ‘The most powerful forces at work in the mind of a cephalopod-like an octopus-stem from an internal conflict between its awareness of its own vulnerability, its awareness of its own ingenuity, experience, and capabilities, and its curiosity/desire to expand its experience/desire to become smarter. ‘’I like to think of these as the ‘Three Hearts Of the Cephalopod Mind’. All information the ceph perceives goes to bolster one or more of these three knowledge centres, and thus all of its future behaviours. This is one of the primary contributors to the individuality we see in cephalopod personalities.’

[@nancyweitemeyer7132]

It's interesting to see how he is scoping out the inside, then seems to wonder why the same kinds of walls as his tank don't react the same way. He checks back outside the box, nope, it isn't the same. He goes back in to see his reflection all around, then tries to see if the outside of that box will reflect too. Nope, it doesn't. Then he goes back inside the box, perhaps b/c he likes to look at himself by now? He was really figuring it out.

[@mamaboocee]

I don't know if you have done this before - but it would be interesting to give this octopusxa "self awareness " test like they do with chimps and elephants. Place something on the octopus that is safely removable, then put him/her in the mirror box and see if he/she realizes it is her/him and removes the item.

[@aprilk3002]

He has figured out that there is an inside and an outside of the box. Maybe feels a little more confident. These animals are fascinating and brilliant.

[@cielomacias1487]

I remember this request I am so excited u guys really did it!

[@kempossibleprivateinvestig9998]

That was a fun one! I love how he ducks out and checks one side for the other octo....dips back in....back out to check the other side! I love how he stretched his arms out rather flat....almost like a human going hmmmm....and tapping their fingers! Was it difficult to move him back to his tank after that one?

[@korvinae5369]

octo be like... hmmm, what's in here? woah! that was overstimulating, I'm out... but hmm that was the most interesting thing I've seen all day... I'm in... oops overstimulated again... but but it was so shiny, okay, I will settle right in :) also octo be gorgeous :)

[@tenchraven]

Albert? Yeah, it fits. Slip into the box- octos in front of him, behind him, and beside him. Behind the one to his side is a door that looks out at something just like his space. So he looks around the box, no one is there, so he stops half in. He sees half an octo in front, and behind, and the beside him is doing the same thing, but there is no half an octo outside. By Neptune, I think he's got it. I don't know if he knows its him, and I cant think of a way to do the normal self awareness testing on an octopus, but it's probably better than 50-50 since he can see his actions copies by the other "other octopi", and 100% he knows what is in the mirror won't get out.

[@gamecock_1960]

Maybe he thought he was seeing through the mirror and not looking at his reflection. That’s why he kept leaving the box to find the “other” octopus maybe

[@dianalovescolors]

Over what time period was the box left there?

[@chiaradina]

I love your videos

[@davidmclarney4542]

Wow so awesome

[@JOESMITH-hb8vb]

wunderschöne tiere sind das

[@bionic-tale4313]

I guess the octopus is curious about the mirrors?

[@tats763]

I'd love to see an octopus react to realistic octopus toys, as well as some brightly colored ones.

[@catherinebreitfeller669]

What’s a “realistic” octopus toy ?

[@tats763]

@@catherinebreitfeller669 one that looks like a real octopus. Not one with two big eyes with eyelashes, or is neon blue, or cartoon-ish.

[@Knightyme]

Dr whopus - It seems to be bigger on the inside ... just wish those handsome octopus would stop getting in the way.

[@anny3046]

Was the color change due to the lighting inside the box or his reaction to his reflection?

[@riphopfer5816]

The lighting. Inside the box, the lights were pink; outside, they were white-to-yellow-white. It flummoxed me too, for a bit!

[@Annbakermodel]

He has the cutest freckles on his “nose”.

[@crmolnar1]

I've been wondering about the little house for the octopus. It is an odd design, and wasn't quite sure where the idea came from for the design, then after watching this video I realized that it looks like an octopuses eye! Pretty cool.

[@bsoliman]

Amazing channel

[@spritelessGirl]

I wonder if he was like, my world glass box here, but there's a smaller glass box inside, but it's bigger on the inside, what does this mean for the bigger box?

[@moonkey2712]

It looks to me like he got much redder when inside, but maybe that was just the lighting

[@DavidSmith-qo1se]

This has probably been asked before, but I'm wondering about some of the specifics regarding your octopus. Where and how did you obtain it... are you required to obtain a special license the way people need to get when keeping a falcon or some other exotic or wild animal? What are the parameters of the water where it's kept with regard to temperature, salinity, and acidity? And lastly, does it ever try to escape the tank?

[@great-grandmakirk8828]

I wonder what he was thinking while going in and out of the mirror room.? Does he realize the images are all him?

[@TheTerrylwg]

It was interesting that he kept going back into the box--he must have been intrigued and couldn't get his mind off it enough to let it go and move-on. And his final position in the video is very cool: all curled-up at the top of the room. What does that position mean? Comfort? Contentment? Fear?

[@philiplanzatella3219]

Octopus,"Hi! How ya doin? Names Howard Moon! Octopus about town!" *Howard takes his leave, clearly annoyed at the other octo's rude behavior*

[@KatJ3st]

I think he was fascinated but the lights gave him stimulus overload

[@melissasalasblair5273]

🪞I love these vids!! 🕵️‍♀️🐙🌌💭🧿

[@godqueenbidoof]

Is the octopus' color a result of the lighting? He looks yellowish outside the box but red in it. I'm wondering if it's due to the light (as the water outside the box looks yellowy when seen from inside the box) or if the octopus actually changes color in there.

[@AbsentPurport]

I didn't comprehend: why octopus is red in the box and yellowish-greenish outside? Is it corders' contortion or the light was different?

[@jasonblalock4429]

"It's bigger on the inside!"

[@DavidSmith-qo1se]

I saw a video once where a dab of white paint was placed above one eye of an elephant who was then shown a mirror. Almost instantly the elephant began reaching with its trunk touching the white spot. Researchers claimed it was proof that the elephant was self-aware. Has anything like that ever been tried with your octopus?

[@doctorcapacitor7932]

If octopus could pass their gained knowledge to their kids, will they take over humans?

[@colleenhanna5383]

Omg I just found your channel thankyou so much for doing what you do ..if there's anyway I can contribute please let me know how

[@Lopro94]

Can you make him listen to different genres of music?

[@umar8673]

Great video! May I ask what's the name of the music used in this video

[@krustyone]

How will an octopus react to a laser pointer much the same as you would tease a cat.

[@DavidSmith-qo1se]

Anyone interested in animal intelligence has seen the videos of other species such as chimpanzees and dolphins trained to use some system where they could press buttons associated with shapes allowing them to communicate with humans. The buttons represented things such as a request for a treat or a favorite object. Has that research been tried with an octopus anywhere at any time, yet -- or with your octopus?

[@sierrahestum8007]

🐙

[@anyrei]

I wonder if he checked outside where that other octopus is

[@elizabethsnyder-baldonado3485]

Finally...an INTELLIGENT lifeform pops up in the midst of the murky mess of morbidness that the Internet alleys are producing in these NOT-that-intelligent times... I wonder if Sir Albert would object to having a new roommate with only 4 discernable appendages??? I'd pay my rent & his, too!!! 😘🐙👀 (Dang. 🤔 No discernible GILLS, either. Aaaaawwww.... 😯)

[@SweetJasamine]

I think he has proved to himself that he is indeed a very fine looking Octopus. BTW do Octopuses favour one tentacle above the others for touching/exploring?

[@marounazou8198]

Great question...It would be lovely if a scientist could answer it with robust data

[@Lopro94]

Or give him something magnetic to toy around with.

[@truthboom]

should''ve make the box of mirror a pernament residence

[@markwallace1727]

Hang on. It's bigger on the inside! (Or is it??)

[@ThePrufessa]

The red color must be what happens when it can't camouflage itself.

[@riphopfer5816]

The red colour is what happens when a neutrally pale yellowish octopus passes into an area lit by pink lights. Curiously, this octopus showed minimal emotion whilst analysing this phenomenon-this was a deeply logical problem, and he tackled it with almost pure reason. This is quite honestly one of the most impressive examples of octopodean problem-solving I’ve seen in a 22-year career of cephalopod study.

[@dtns9549]

can an octopus can chosse a best prey (use a small fish and a biger fish)

[@ImFakeStation]

octopus

[@hunthunt21]

What color would he change in the mirror box if he was trying to camo himself?

[@a_diamond]

Is it just the lighting or does the octopus go red every time it goes in there??

[@mEG_-nr1vk]

Oneee

[@kowjackyow7585]

All those straight lines.....I'm not talking only about the box of mirrors, but in general, as octopuses seem to be very tactile animals, that must be really unpleasant for them. Straight lines, smooth planes. Everywhere.