Tickles (the Pacific red octopus) is Released Back into Poverty Bay

Tickles came to the aquarium with a head-mantle length of approximately 1.5 inches and an armspan of about 5 inches. She is leaving with a head-mantle length of approximately 4 inches, and an armspan of over 22 inches! She has been an incredible ambassador for her species, and a joy for staff, interns, and volunteers to work with at MaST.
Tickles was collected in July 2024 on a dive just south of the MaST Center Aquarium in the Redondo Beach dive site. Among other reasons, it was important to release her near the sea floor because octopus tend to creep and crawl rather than swim. To do that, MaST staff developed this ROV (remotely operated vehicle, of sorts) to get her down to where she needed to be! With a removeable lid, she was gently lowered down below the dock and almost immediately was on her way!