Stressed Out Octopi ????????

Marine experts have given 25 octopuses a Rubik’s Cube each in a study aimed at easing their stress levels in captivity. Scientists believe the intelligent sea creatures have a preferred arm out of eight that they use to feed and investigate with. They are now testing this theory with a month-long observation project in which the octopuses will be given food and toys to play with.

Experts have launched a study at sea life centres across Europe to find out if octopuses have a favourite tentacle. They will then record whether the creatures use a specific limb to pick up the object or if they are octidextrous. It is hoped the results of the Sea Life Centre study will shed light on ‘handiness’ in the animal kingdom. Uniquely, octopuses have more than half their nerves in their arms and have even been shown to partially think with their arms.

“We hope the study will help the overall well-being of octopuses,” said Claire Little. “They are very susceptible to stress so if they do have a favourite side to be fed on, it could reduce risk to them.”

The octopus research will take place in the 23 branches of the Sea Life Centre attractions Britain and Europe. Items such as a ball, a jam jar and lego bricks will be dropped into the water for the octopuses to play with. Visitors will then be asked to note down which arm was closest to the object and which arm picked it up. If the octopus uses several arms, they must write them all down but in the order they touched it. Staff at the centre will also do the same during feeding time.

The results will be analysed by Sea Life Centre biologists and the results will be announced in the autumn.

Get a life, Marine “Experts”. Do European’s have nothing better to do with their time than to sit around and figure out how to relieve the stress of an octopus? Or to find out whether or not they have one dominant tentacle?? First off the items that these “experts” are using to relieve stress would actually raise their stress level. Let me explain.

The items mentioned in the research study are a rubix cube, a ball, a jam jar and lego bricks. Ok, here is the problem with that. Rubix cube: Octopuses are color blind. Thus making them unable to lose due to all sides being the same color and in turn makes them feel inferior by not challenging their true mental capacity. A ball: balls float. It is simply too much work to keep a ball under water. It would be no fun to play with a ball under water. It is impossible to play underwater catch with a floating ball. They would have to announce a ball bitch octopus and who wants to be that guy? Jam Jar: They do not specify whether or not the jar actually has jam in it or not. If it does, then once the jar is opened the jam becomes waterlogged. No one wants to eat waterlogged jam and octopi don’t even eat jam. If there is no jam in the jar, then it would react in the same manner as the ball and float to the top. Lego Bricks: How many are we talking about? 2,3 or an entire container? You can’t make anything sweet with just a couple of bricks. You need an entire container. Then if you do use an entire container, you have to worry about them fighting over the legos. I for one don’t want to see an octopus throw down just because some @ss hole stole the lego he needed to complete his masterpiece….Not only would each of these items cause stress amongst the octopi, they want them to use their dominant tentacle? Have you ever tried to use a rubix cube with one hand? How about play with legos with one hand? Do you understand how hard it would be to disassemble an awesome lego creation with one hand?

As you can see, this research study is flawed. Either these “experts” are idiots or else I am. I have my High School Diploma and I received a 17 on my A.C.T. So you tell me who the idiot is…