Octopus opens valve, floods Santa Monica aquarium
An octopus today managed to pry loose a water-control valve at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, flooding the facility with more than 200 gallons of saltwater.
The valve is inside the sea creature's tank, and officials think the octopus grabbed hold of it while exploring.
"It found something loose and just pulled on it," said Tara Treiber, the aquarium's education manager. "They are very smart creatures."
A worker arriving this morning found water overflowing out of the tank and "a lovely little lake" on the floor — about 3 inches of water that damaged newly installed carpets, as well as walls and facades, Treiber said.
The damage could have been much worse had workers discovered the open valve later — potentially harming the sea life inside, Treiber said.
The female California two-spotted octopus has been housed at the aquarium for two months, she said.
"They are solitary but curious creatures," Treiber said.
—Andrew Blankstein
Photo: The octopus believed to have flooded Santa Monica's aquarium.
Credit: Tara Crow / Heal the Bay
That octopus really knows how to screw things up, he ready for the LA City Council!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | February 26, 2009 at 05:12 PM
You just have to give the octopus points for ingenuity.
Posted by: GeneTierney | February 26, 2009 at 05:13 PM
This is just the beginning. Soon they shall take over the world, as soon as the signal is sent.
Posted by: Maverick | February 26, 2009 at 05:15 PM
the 'ol...the octopus did it trick again is it?
Posted by: pitbullstew | February 26, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Octopi are scary smart. Now that this one has learned a new trick, expect her to keep trying to do it.
Posted by: Jim | February 26, 2009 at 05:24 PM
I have this sudden hunger for calimari.
Posted by: mister jones | February 26, 2009 at 05:24 PM
Apparently, the octopus was trying to move to an adjacent, rent-controlled tank.
Posted by: Kriss | February 26, 2009 at 05:32 PM
Yes I worry too. I'm reminded of The Onion story on Dolphins developing opposable thumbs and the resulting end of the human world. I trust there are monitoring procedures at the Aquarium on this new "Fifth Column"?
Posted by: Roger | February 26, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Never forget watching a Octopus get itself into a jar and then setting the jar top back on the jar. Octopus inside lid on.
Posted by: way | February 26, 2009 at 05:41 PM
that little guy didn't want to be in there;)
Posted by: WiseOwl | February 26, 2009 at 05:59 PM
I used to be a bartender until I was laid off and replaced by an octopus. But I gotta hand it to em, they know how to multi task.
Posted by: Daniel | February 26, 2009 at 06:00 PM
I think he's trying to find the door to his real home. Animals are amazing!
Posted by: acc | February 26, 2009 at 06:18 PM
You go, girl!
Posted by: corollabruce | February 26, 2009 at 06:27 PM
I for one etc., etc.
Posted by: jmags | February 26, 2009 at 09:50 PM
Maybe he was looking for his true love, the octo-mom,
Posted by: Brettzky | February 26, 2009 at 10:23 PM
"The valve is inside the sea creature's tank"
Sheer genius.
Posted by: Cepha Lopod | February 27, 2009 at 01:54 AM
Poor creature was probably bored out of its gord, considering the endless hours it's locked in the acquarium left to its own devices.
Amazing how intelligent they really are, which means they have a functioning brain. Perhaps the operators of the acquarium can figure out ways to occupy the octupi with some sort of "learning toys and tools" where they can lock and unlock knobs and such, providing an outlet for their boredom.
Luckily, I'm not a fan of calimari. I don't relish the idea of eating a creature that may be more intelligent than my neighbor.
Posted by: pinkerton | February 27, 2009 at 02:52 AM
Man, this is why I love the octopus. Best critter ever.
Posted by: Jam | February 27, 2009 at 03:39 AM
It must have thought it had found a tasty bivalve.
Posted by: Islander | February 27, 2009 at 09:25 AM
maybe the Octopus is smarter than we think. We humans assume we are the smartest creatures on earth. If that was true, why would we have voted for G. Bush not only once but twice?
Posted by: Rob Nel | February 27, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Maybe the curator at the aquarium should take a tip from home aquarists who keep these guys - give them hard plastic baby and toddler toys (rings, etc.) Many of them do play with them - or just give the poor gal a high def TV and she can live like the rest of us. I hope the L.A. Times doesn't mind this "cephlapod watch hi-def story" link from the Sydney Morning Herald:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/octopuses-give-eight-thumbs-up-for-highdefinition-tv/2008/12/19/1229189886181.html
Posted by: Meredith | February 27, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Well, you know what they say about "idle hands" or should I say idle arms especially if you have 8 ot them.
Posted by: Boo | February 28, 2009 at 09:30 AM