Octopus Hideout - Nora's Choice - Octopus Den Tournament

When we realized it was time to provide Nora, our cute little cephalopod, with a new hideout, we simply couldn't resist making it fun not only for her but hopefully for you as well. Octopuses love having a hiding place they can turn to when they want to spend a little alone time. It provides them with a sense of security and privacy which is often necessary for these intelligent animals.
We came up with a few objects we thought would be perfect for our octopus. Instead of making the choice for her, we thought we'd set up a little tournament to see which object she prefers.
The rules are simple. Place two objects in her aquarium at the same time and allow her to explore each one. When she makes her choice and settles in, the other object is eliminated. We allowed a minimum of two hours to pass without Nora paying any attention to the one option before pronouncing the other as the winner of the round. The winner of each round was replaced with her original hideout after every challenge. In this way, our octopus would not get used to a particular object. More importantly, it would be protected from any stress or discomfort. We lined all objects with ocean rocks to keep it fair.
The items we used for our octopus hideout tournament are:
- Smiley Cup
- Takeout Coffee Cup
- Treasure Chest
- Lantern
- Oversized Pepsi Can
- Oversized Coca Cola Can
- Porcelain Swan
- Porcelain Elephant
Each object seemed ideal for a small-sized octopus such as Nora.
We had a lot of fun filming this video and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

[@masamikolbenschlag8941]

After Nora made her final decision to choose the coke can, she started to put stones around the opening of the can. I think she was trying to make herself invisible. How smart she is !! 🐙🐙🐙❤❤❤

[@Kahandran]

She's dragging rocks into the can at the end because she's clearly scared her home will float away like her first one did. Justice for the coffee cup! It was unfairly disqualified!

[@edithlewis9330]

When she removed the rocks and the cup went up like an out-of-control elevator with her in it I couldn’t stop laughing! I wonder what SHE thought.....”Whaaaaaaaat?!!” “I guess the smiley face will have to do.”

[@28105wsking]

Nora and other octopus feel safer when they can get in under something where their head and back are protected. They don't like things that are open at the top. They like to be underneath something. If you turned all those things on their sides, then you would have a real octopus competition.

[@marshawargo7238]

Absolutely! At the start I thought she'd choose the smiley face & at the end it looked to me like she was hugging it goodbye. nice to know you before choosing the coke can. If the smiley & swan were on their sides, I think it would have been a tougher decision! Perhaps they should leave all prospects over night for a week rearranging their positions, to see which ones she Sleeps in more often, then eliminate this way!!!

[@rassp3860]

Never in a million years would I have thought watching an octopus could be so thrilling! Thank you for these videos and opening my eyes, mind and heart to these beautiful creatures!!

[@Vidchemy]

I liked how Nora sat in front of the smiley mug & faced the camera at the end as if announcing she had made her final decision. Nora seemed to enjoy, or at least not be stressed by, the ride up in the foam coffee cup. It would be interesting to see if she would purposely get in & remove the weighting rocks for another ride up.

[@Jens0215]

Vidchemy I wondered the same thing- what would she do if they tried it again. I laughed out loud when it floated up, not gonna lie! 🤣❤️🐙

[@riphopfer5816]

Vidchemy I agree with your assessment of the Starbucks ride. In fact, I’d bet money that she was trying to pull the cup back down so she could have another go. Some occies are thrill-seekers; this has been quite well-established among ceph parents. Some cuttles, too. A lot of them like to play in the high-pressure bubbles of aquarium filters!

[@CellGames2006]

3:25 "Mobile homes are nice, but they remind me of my ex boyfriend... I'm ready to settle down now."

[@Valconize]

@@CellGames2006 issues

[@trindalas]

Not gonna lie it would be adorable if she kept doing it.

[@FlyTyer1948]

Tip that smiley cup on it’s side or tilted almost upside down & her choice might be different because she isn’t vulnerable from above.

[@riphopfer5816]

FlyTyer1948 Couldn’t agree more . It was OBVIOUS that she liked it, and didn’t enjoy parting with it; however, 350 million years of instinct that tells her that an horizontal opening with a ‘door’ is vital for safety won’t be overruled- no matter how much she may get a chuckle out of the funny face on the mug.

[@rowynnecrowley1689]

It seemed she liked the bright yellow. Maybe she'd fancy a Squirt or a Fanta.

[@LindaLuxable]

I had wondered if she could tip it over. We are starting to think like Nora!

[@rena388]

FlyTyer1948 yellow cup, yes and they could also have done it with swan, might have been much more difficult

[@einzeltier]

@@rowynnecrowley1689 Octopi are colourblind

[@cathyb1273]

It seems that Nora rejects the hides when the opening is on top. She probably feels more secure and less exposed with an opening on the side. 😊🐙

[@booper3439]

I agree!

[@redshoesgirl]

i think so too. plus she could modify the can by pulling things towards the opening. something she would not have been able to do with the smiley cup. i think the can will prove to be too small for her soon.

[@sarahm9723]

Yes!

[@stephaniebalducci6248]

I completely agree! She can hide better and it's also darker in there for her. She's so cute!

[@faireplaymedia7622]

@Cathy b - I totally agree that she prefers the hides where the opening is more of a front door instead of a top door she can defend from within so to speak. She might’ve liked the roominess of the happy cup if it had been turned on it’s side.

[@anna.m8]

When she floated in that cup 😂

[@sparrowcunningham7637]

I love the way the ends of their tentacles move with such noodle-y purpose. So fragile and yet so determined.

[@booper3439]

Beautifully written ♡♡♡

[@riphopfer5816]

😂 ‘Noodly purpose ‘... Absolute gold. Beautifully said . I just might borrow that. But you’re right-She can gather SO MUCH more sense data from her arms (and their suckers) than from her eyes-despite her superb vision. Those noodly tips can see around corners, can asses things both in front of and behind her, and can-in general-simply analyse a vast amount of area in detail in a very short time. I’m with you-when you keep in mind all the information that those noodly little arm-tips are nonstop sending to each other and (occasionally) to her brain, it’s truly amazing!

[@booper3439]

I LOVED noodle-y too. Brilliant ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

[@KnifeKnut]

I kinda like the idea that the arms like to do their own thing, but end up coming to a consensus.

[@riphopfer5816]

KnifeKnut I agree! It’s actually a very efficient use of processing power-almost like multi-core CPU. I’ve been obsessed with cephs for 35 years, yet I am still amazed that their minds developed in this way.

[@anaabendroth3460]

Looked like she was trying her darnedest to close the lid on that treasure chest

[@riphopfer5816]

Ana Abendroth I know! I hope it hadn’t been jammed open-octopodes LOVE bivalve shells in the wild because they can get inside and open and close them! I’ll bet if Nora could’ve manipulated that lid the chest would’ve ranked much higher!

[@destinycircle8192]

I was thinking the same thing. She didn't like the treasure chest only because it was too open; she was too exposed.

[@louinwy1]

Agree!

[@kaoruM33]

Yes~!!

[@amy7189]

Aww, I think she actually really liked the takeaway cup, she was making herself comfy and even seemed to reach for it when it was floating =( shame it wasn't heavier =(

[@booper3439]

I thought so too

[@rkr9861]

I think she liked options that were not open on the top. The takeaway cup, like the Cola can, was placed horizontally and so was shadowed and obstructed the view of enemies moving overhead. That makes it a better hiding spot. I'd actually like to see this as an experiment. Give the octopus lots of open opaque containers with the opening facing up or sideways, and see if the octopus always goes for the sideways container.

[@maryseflore7028]

I wonder if they could have weighed it from the outside? It was so sad to see her try to get that one :_)

[@lisaadolf2695]

Agree, if they had used a ceramic Starbucks cup, like they sell in their shops, she would have been happy to keep that one.

[@debdrake6786]

I think she learned from the takeout cup NOT to take the rocks out. She probably figured if she took the rocks out of the coke can, that would float away, too.

[@riphopfer5816]

She’s so beautiful! Look at those big, pretty eyes! 😆Lol, I had a laugh when she rode the floating coffee cup up to the surface. I was thinking, you know, it would probably be a fairer competition if you put all of the objects on their sides... O. vulgaris typically live in horizontal dens. This was interesting to watch, though! By the second or third choice, I got the impression that she understood what was happening. Indeed, in the final round, you could see her take a few extra moments to look at the smiley cup before going to the Coke cup... but you could just tell, once she got into that Coke cup, she felt comfortable. It was clearly settled when, a moment later, she started building her ‘door’! Adorable. Absolutely brilliant creature. I’m delighted to see her gain so much size and mass, and that her arms are continuing to recover. Rescuing her... that was a good thing you did, @OctoLab.

[@littlemrpinkness295]

J Robert Hopfer I agree she caught on and I think she was having fun with it.

[@myracharleston8119]

I'd like to see if the swan on it's side could tempt her away from the coke can.

[@cherylalt101]

Myra Charleston she really liked the neck of the swan. I think you might be right. If the swan was on its side, it would definitely be a finalist!

[@maxine3587]

She looks like somebody trying on different clothes and checking out the feel of both fabrics by touching them at the same time. 😊

[@CellGames2006]

The reason she picked the Coke can in the end was its entrance could be modified with rocks whereas the smiley cup couldn't.

[@celinam.2513]

They didn't take Arnold for this test because they knew that he would only accept his barrel

[@thedogthatsawyounaked]

I can hear her saying “can i have my floaty home backs?”

[@DaffneyDalilah]

Thank you @Octolab for caring for Nora! She is looking so much healthier each time I see her. I was busting up laughing when she made the coffee cup into a float! 😂

[@Aethgeir]

I like her interactions with the swan. So cute!

[@celestewatson4874]

Ikr? She was touching its neck so tenderly, like she knew it was a being.

[@fiendbarbaric7155]

What a smart girl she is ~ She knows what to choose to get sponsorship XD The bills for tasty fishes must be paid...

[@riphopfer5816]

Fiend Barbaric 😆This made me laugh. I had a similar thought. Smart and pretty-she’s the total package!

[@NewMessage]

"Octopus Tournament" sounds like the most awesome sporting event ever.

[@zoebowdery2219]

I agree

[@elysafrancisco7240]

I would watch that! Lol

[@Delaney-and-the-Starlight]

Reminds me of that time the octopus chose World Cup winners and kept getting it right.

[@youdrilledoutmydick3]

Splatoon

[@carlswenson5403]

a wee sunken chest to put blocks in ... Octolab, i think i love you. I've said it before, but again, this is the best yt channel by a significant margin. Thank you for posting. Even if only 34,000 people are watching, this world is a far better place because of science, and y'all are doin it well. 100% Legit

[@riphopfer5816]

Carl Swenson I second this sentiment.

[@Richard.Sanchez]

Longest Coke commercial I've ever watched.

[@GenderWoman666]

And the cutest one ^v^

[@TheWereparadox]

I thought that was Scarface oh.. nm, wrong kind of coke.

[@zer-op2gq]

@@TheWereparadox no lol they just don't put it in there anymore =)

[@peterklein3354]

Well most people want their coke without octopus

[@jennyg-punkt8849]

And the best as well! 😄❤

[@amandadonegan2137]

(I also loved the way she acted to the camera deciding her winner....she KNEW what you were doing! 💖)

[@GenderWoman666]

I think so too XD

[@angeliner59]

Totally agree! Lol

[@lindag7183]

Since octopi seem to prefer a 'lid' on their hidey-hole, (like a large shell or coconut), what would have happened if she could have closed lid of the 'chest' over herself - for 'easy in and out'??? She seemed to prefer a longer container - probably gave more room for her tentatcles to be comfortable while her 'head' could still see outside. I got the impression that she liked the smoother surfaces - but the shape had to be 'just right'.

[@riphopfer5816]

Feels Good Man Agreed. I was a mite disappointed she couldn’t close the lid on the chest.

[@GeorgeMonet]

Nora: "I'm the treasure inside the chest :)"

[@riphopfer5816]

GeorgeMonet She most certainly is! 💙💙💙🐙

[@aurea.]

You better believe it 💖🐙

[@CellGames2006]

The pirate vibes with her inside a chest are insane... if only she could open and close it at will.

[@trindalas]

I was hoping it would win for that exact reason. Sadly the lid seemed to be too stiff to close easily. It probably would have won if she had been able to close it.

[@great-grandmakirk8828]

In the beginning I thought she would prefer hiding in a place with a side opening rather than a top opening. In the end I see that I was correct.👍🏻👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@booper3439]

I would. Much safer

[@HimekiKoroku]

Nora's now in her "ColaCabana" Though as many have said it definitely would have been a better comparison with so many of the others set up with a side entrance. I've loved watching all the octopuses so far. Cute, funny, and intelligent.

[@John-oe5nb]

Nora: " Test tubes, nipple bottles, pepsi cans, swans, treasure chests, where the hell am I?"

[@rena388]

John seapollution?

[@treborironwolfe978]

@Octolab TV I am so PROUD of you all for taking good care of such a precious creature.. I appreciate your taste in humor with the variety of challenges you offer Nora, much the same as I do with my own cat and dogs. I wish more people could see octopus as more than a menu item or freak show contestant. Their "multi-brain" neural network is so different from our own.. how could we possibly understand how they think or feel?

[@elizabethmaguire7487]

I also think that if the lid closed on the treasurer chest, that it would have been the one she would have chosen!!

[@pamelalamon7670]

She's a beautiful lil octopus! I'm glad she's doing so well. She truly seems to like it where she is!

[@shortgus27B]

She's so freaking cute 😍😍😍... and SMART

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

2:37 - She knows exactly what she's doing; she's making a break for it. 😉 10:45 - Yup, she's definitely testing and comparing them, she's actually trying them out. 13:25 - She's confronting the camera/viewers. I feel so naked. :-\ 14:10 - I'm not surprised. The cup is too exposed with the opening at the top. The can feels more cozy and safe.

[@elizabethmaguire7487]

Those eyes 👀 though! So beautiful 😍 you can see that she's having so much fun and is so curious about all of them 😊

[@OGSontar]

No question she figured out what was going in fairly quickly.

[@crazycatlady39]

You know you've found home when you start 'gardening' in the front yard! Lol!

[@marymaryquitecontrary]

crazycatlady39 True! I chose (or was chosen by) a house one time-walked in, sat down, didn't want to leave EVER.

[@aiodensghost8645]

@@marymaryquitecontrary r/unexpectedSCP

[@elysafrancisco7240]

Move over polar bear, Coke has a new mascot! Lol

[@amandadonegan2137]

That was brilliant.....and so lovely to see her with the substrate......l loved watching a wonderful creature being given good and KIND stimulation in a captive environment......l like the live food too! I honestly think she liked the chest best but couldnt pull the lid down to where she'd like it 😁......l think she loved the swan too but would have preferred it on its side? X Brilliant mini doc xx

[@katemaxwell2804]

Nora has developed into a beautiful girl. I thought she looked cute peeking out of the smiley cup but understand the side entrance would be more shelter from predators above and hide out when hunting. Coke should offer her an advertising deal!!

[@trindalas]

The eyes poking out of the cup was super adorable but definitely understandable she wanted the sideways items. Shame the chest wasn’t easy enough to close, she probably would have loved that.

[@sarahm9723]

She's so smart and curious!

[@anitababacsi]

I love you Princess Nora. (The Cola Can is her little barrel.) ❤️️🦑❤️️🦑❤️️

[@elizabethmaguire7487]

Nora! I missed you boo! You look so good & healthy! I think Nora loves a hiding spot that is dark, where she can hide, where she isn't exposed & can't be seen. What a great idea to have Nora have a say in what she would like 😁 Be well my adorable friend ❤️

[@Erikali26]

Thank you for updating us on Nora! Congratulations all around for improving her aquarium and considering your background music with much more scrutiny. What a tribute to oceanic trash, Nora picks the Coca-Cola & I bet she knew it was the last round...🐙💭💡

[@cindyhutchins9216]

She seems to prefer finding places in sort of bright colors. Could it be that in her mind those are "warning, stay away" colors? Red and yellow?

[@elizabethmaguire7487]

Really good point! Love it & your probably right!

[@einzeltier]

@Cindy Hutchins Octopi are colourblind.

[@moritz4439]

Well there are people who claim that octopi may see color. But in a different way as other animal.

[@cindyhutchins9216]

@@moritz4439 yes they believe that the way their pupils are shaped allows them to see colors

[@moritz4439]

@@cindyhutchins9216 They could try to test it. Make tubes in different colors and in front of them a sign with the a color. If hes in the tube put him something to eat in the front. Maybe he realises the connection of the sign and the tube and starts always going into the right one. The form of the pupils support the abilty to see colors.

[@gojiberry7201]

Was this a paid advertisement? haha, totally kidding. Love you guys and love Nora! For octopus lovers, this is like the Superbowl :D

[@riphopfer5816]

GojiBerry Maybe the World Series would be a better analogy. But it was undoubtedly delightful.

[@dianeclarke3763]

I could watch her all day... 💕🐙

[@booper3439]

I love her so much ♡♡♡♡

[@ReptilianTeaDrinker]

I couldn't help but laugh when she floated up with the coffee cup. She didn't seem too stressed by it either, or at last I hope so. Anyway, what a cute octopus!

[@GenderWoman666]

I love to see how she is like melting into the smiley cup xD

[@trindalas]

The little eyes poking up over the top is adorable every time.

[@aurea.]

I never thought I'd be so fascinated by an octopus's search for a new home.

[@lindarichmond3199]

Nora didn't like the top opening containers she wanted somewhere to hide and she could pull the stones around her.

[@GenderWoman666]

I love how that shrimp accompanies her like in Disney's movies XD

[@lauraschurr9952]

Captive sea animals often make a friend or two of their live food and let it live - they need some company ...

[@GenderWoman666]

@@lauraschurr9952 Hm, seems like Disney didn't invent it on his own XD

[@u.e.u.e.]

Cool! 😀👍 Why not giving her the smiley cup too, but in a tilted position?

[@riphopfer5816]

U.E. U.E. THIS. This really would’ve been the only way to make competition between smiley and Coke fair.

[@Cara-39]

Probably because the smiley cup wouldn't stay weighed down on its side. The ocean rocks would only keep it on the floor if they're on the bottom of the cup.

[@u.e.u.e.]

@@Cara-39 It's ceramic. It doesn't float.

[@Cara-39]

@@u.e.u.e. I was just going by the description box that said all potential homes were lined with rocks so I thought they may have played a part in how the mug was situated

[@u.e.u.e.]

@@Cara-39 I didn't read that, sorry. But I had liked Nora gets something more comfy than just a cola can. ☺

[@miragestarr]

Nora has excellent taste!! (Also pun intended too) xD

[@Boombadadoo]

This is by far my favourite Coca Cola commercial!

[@TangentOmega]

From the color challenge we learned they are drawn to reds, actively retreat from blues and are neutral to yellows. You could predict which she would choose. The white swan was interesting. She seemed enamored by that long neck. LOL!

[@courtneymayfield3380]

Nora: “While I like the color scheme of Smiley Mug, Takeout Cup has nice, sustainable cork...” *cup floats up* “Forget eco-friendly! I’m going with fashion!”

[@heikerosenau1520]

I love that Nora could choose her new home by herself❣ It makes sense she preferred the objects with the opening on the side; gives more protection than an opening on the top. I wonder if she had chosen the coffee cup, had it not turned into an elevator... Maybe you could attach all objects to concrete (with glue or srews) in another experiment? I'd like to see what happens then. And let her choose between multiple "sideway" objects, but different material - but please make sure there can't develop any rust! It's fun watching her thinking and make decisions❣

[@alexontheedge]

Looks like Nora prefers shapes that do not leave her exposed from above & are preferably nice & dark, where she can disappear into the shadows . . . Turn the swan on its side. Up-end the treasure chest so that's it's an A-frame, then run the same comparisons.

[@lorielovesbooks7315]

Amazed at how cooperative she is with picking.

[@cousiwa09]

The rising coffee cup was funny. She is beautiful

[@chrisgreek4285]

It was amazing to watch her select - and yes, I really do believe it was a decision on her part - each of the hideaways in the rounds. You could tell that she had a list of criteria that she was trying each possibility against. This was totally fascinating❣️❣️

[@ndrjskrbnk]

by the first "takeout coffee cup" it seemed, that she liked the feel of the outside material, probably cork.

[@littlemrpinkness295]

I swear during the final round she was looking straight at the camera!

[@riphopfer5816]

She was, at least part of the time. After emerging from the Smiley cup-which she liked-she stood in front of it for a moment to say goodbye to it, and to glare at us and swear at us for not putting it on its side so she could appreciate its qualities as an home.

[@CellGames2006]

13:15 she came to announce her decision like Bond villain rubbing her tentacles.

[@Smartz118]

Experiments like this make me go crazy. I would need to do iterations of every conceivable facet with controls. Does an octopus prefer wood, metal, rock, plastic or any other type of material for its habitat? What shape does it prefer? What color? What orientation of the shelter is desired? How big a space should the interior be? Should the interior material/color/shape match the exterior? Should it be above the substrate, or buried into the substrate? Does it like certain textures? THERE ARE TOO MANY VARIABLES.

[@CellGames2006]

In nature, you gotta work with what you have.

[@keatonblackman472]

What A Smart Cutie!

[@zsong9600]

The cans looked like they had rust on the edges - I wouldn't think that would be such a good idea.

[@scruffyscrubs5468]

Smart girl. She has grown!

[@MrKKmusic]

She’s mesmerizing - I could watch her all day!

[@queenbeedat8726]

I would prefer the dark can on it's side too. Go Nora! She's adorable.❤️

[@kayumust]

hehe she knows how to pick a good sponsor !

[@OrbitFallenAngel]

I'm so happy that Nora is growing and getting bigger! 💗 She's looking so much healthier and happier!! She's such a pretty and sleek girl! And I almost forgot, very clever too!! 😉🐙🐚

[@vger9084]

Octopus in a treasure chest, a classic aquarium piece.😂😂😂

[@AlaskanAndie]

Hey! Could you please try an experiment where you turn one or two of your objects over so it's difficult to get inside, so we can see how truly amazing their talent for getting into tiny spaces is!?! They're literal Houdini's!!! Thank you!!!!

[@openclassics]

Want to apologize! You are creative! And you make your Nora happy!!!

[@namoiostman7729]

No other DNA like hers on This planet. Incredible species!

[@jhanes3791]

She is absolutely lovely!!

[@colemarie9262]

She looks hilariously cute in the swan! When she faced the neck and had her tentacles around it, it really reminded me of these swan boat pool floats around when I was little and I couldn't stop laughing

[@nodigBKMiche]

I think she loved the Smilie coffee & floating coffee cups the best. Maybe she needs two 😁

[@shawnhampshirehick101]

New Octo lab video Yay 🙌 Nora all grown up. The tank looking good with the shells on the bottom. Happy ☺ smile mug would of been my first choice. Second hog mug, choices choices.😄🐙

[@undefinedname1398]

"I'd like to be under the sea In an octopus's garden in the shade"

[@cherylalt101]

Undefined name love the Beatles, would be good music for Nora.

[@kirstbielle]

Nora with the paper cup: "yup, this sounds like a cheap fishing trick and I ain't falling for it"

[@blueeyes6852]

Clever idea for your video! You guys never disappoint! Thanks!!

[@iCeeWest]

I’m high and I can’t stop watching these videos

[@ARCHIVED9610]

It was really cute how the cup just floated up and it was a mistake

[@indriadrayton1132]

Sooo cute! She reached out at the end to shut the lights off!!!!

[@extraSPARErib]

What a beautiful and brilliant friend you have, Nora, the queen of the Octo.

[@12beemer34]

The way she puts her arms around the elephant and the swan at the same time...as if she's saying "can't I have both?"

[@SnaykEyes77]

I have a feeling that if she was able to close that treasure chest, it would have been a difficult one for her to give up. I've seen these guys make homes out of two halves of a coconut shell. They get nice and comfortable in one of the halves and then seal it up with the other half. I've also seen smaller ones do the same thing with bivalve shells as well. They appear to quite like the convertible life, nothing like taking the roof off on a cool summers day......🐙🐙🐙

[@maxine3587]

I love these videos. I never realised what beautiful (if slightly creepy looking - sorry, Arnold & co!) ethereal creatures these are.

[@gabrieldziurkovskimachado5058]

i see nothing but a cute girl deciding her room’s decoration and I love it

[@debbiedunn4477]

Nora went for a ride in that coffee cup. I wonder if she would've picked that one in the end

[@GlobalWarmingSkeptic]

I think she likes it when she can get in the dark more than anything. That and security. You'd think they'd want a loose place to hang out but they seem to love to ball hemselves up as tight as possible when they're resting.

[@THeCOMENTOR1243]

well i just spent like 3 hours watching octopus videos. time well spent.

[@nadinehackman2358]

I agree with other commenters that her preference is to have protection from above, hence a side opening. Since the soda can looks rusty, perhaps a do over with mug, swan, etc on their sides?

[@originalbadguy9242]

I love Nora! She even looks feminine to me! It actually looks like she has eyelashes!! She also really seems to like interactions! I can tell when she sees y'all moving around and preparing things because she speeds to that side of the tank looking excited and interested 😊!

[@Shaden0040]

She is experiencing what it is like to be one of her ammonite ancestors.

[@smylingsam]

looking at the film we see Nora adding rocks to the Coke can at the end. I wonder if, initially, she did not realize that they weigh the objects down. I wonder if the Takeout cup were reintroduced would she prefer that over the coke can? what if weight were added by adding glued on washers or weights outside the cup? Also she REALLY wanted to close that treasure chest and she seems to have added a door to the cola can. I wonder if she wants a lid/cap for her cylindrical cola can?perhaps you could use a cup top, add some duct tape as a hinge? I wonder if the question she is considering is : Bowl/depression (pots, coffee cups) vs cylinder (cola cans, treacherous take out cup). She seems not to like having the top exposed. I wonder if you made a cap for the smiley cup if that would impact her choice? Since she really seems to want to hide for time, perhaps a larger object that she could fully hide inside (like a venti/grande cup) might help?

[@TUExplorer1]

Also would like to see an experiment where the octopus has to use a tool to get to their food item.

[@sambalokiizarame9439]

She truly "CLASSIC"

[@thechancellor3715]

As a former diver I guessed that all of the open top containers were the least likely choices offered over the covered ones. Looking upwards towards the sky underwater any object or life is strongly backlight so that only a shadow like form is perceived lacking most identifying detail beyond the silhouette form. For us terrestrials it would be like the plane spotter flash cards of WWII featuring the various angle silhouettes. One can also see the mirror effect on the vertical glass sides of the tank which is how the view upwards also is. Depth and water turbidity also play an important part in discerning identifying features. The tank bottom of only gravel lacks the fine sediments and sands found in their natural habitat...which the octopus can stir up by jetting water providing a smoke screen to cover escape. The sterile clear environment of the test tanks while very useful to observe tightly structured and controlled experiments in a sense robs the octopus of the environmental tools they use and manipulate in the wild. Which these very complex and amazing creatures are very capable of employing to their advantage for hunting, hiding, and evasion. Kudos to all at the Octolab for providing these entrancing and thought provoking videos. Keep up the good work....and maybe some field experiments will grow from these studies.