Octopuses are the ultimate escape artists of the ocean. With their boneless bodies, incredible intelligence, and problem-solving skills, these cephalopods have pulled off some of the most astonishing jailbreaks in the animal kingdom. From squeezing through impossibly tiny gaps to outsmarting aquarium staff, octopuses have proven time and again that no tank can truly hold them.
Here are 10 Houdini-like feats by octopuses that showcase their genius and determination to break free.
Table of Contents
- Inky’s Great Escape
- Otto the Octopus vs. Aquarium Lights
- The Octopus That Stole a Crab and Ran
- The New Zealand Octopus Jailbreak
- The Octopus That Crawled Across Dry Land
- The German Octopus That Flooded a Lab
- The Octopus That Escaped Through a Drain
- The Octopus That Hid in a Coffee Cup
- The Octopus That Outsmarted a Locker
- The Octopus That Used Tools to Escape
1. Inky’s Great Escape
Location: National Aquarium of New Zealand Year: 2016
Inky the octopus became an international sensation when he executed one of the most daring escapes in cephalopod history. After noticing a small gap in his tank’s lid, Inky squeezed his boneless body through the opening, slid across the floor, and slipped into a 150-foot-long drainpipe that led straight to the ocean.
Aquarium staff found only a wet trail leading to the drain—Inky was never seen again. His escape proved that octopuses are not only strong but also opportunistic problem-solvers.
2. Otto the Octopus vs. Aquarium Lights
Location: Sea Star Aquarium, Germany Year: 2008
Otto wasn’t just an escape artist—he was a saboteur. Staff at the Sea Star Aquarium noticed that their lights kept short-circuiting overnight. After reviewing security footage, they discovered Otto climbing to the top of his tank and squirting water at the overhead lights, causing electrical failures.
Why? Because he was bored. Once staff gave him toys to play with, the light attacks stopped.
3. The Octopus That Stole a Crab and Ran
Location: Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, USA Year: 2009
An octopus at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium pulled off a heist worthy of an action movie. After breaking out of its tank, it crawled to a neighboring enclosure, grabbed a live crab, and dragged it back to its own tank for a midnight snack.
The staff only realized what happened when they found crab shells in the octopus’s tank the next morning.
4. The New Zealand Octopus Jailbreak
Location: Napier, New Zealand Year: 2015
A fisherman caught a small octopus and kept it in a bucket with a lid. When he returned, the octopus was gone—but the lid was still in place.
How? The octopus had pushed its arm through a tiny gap, unscrewed the lid from the outside, and escaped. This feat demonstrated octopuses’ ability to manipulate objects with precision.
5. The Octopus That Crawled Across Dry Land
Location: Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, New Zealand Year: 2009
Octopuses can survive brief periods out of water, and one clever cephalopod at Kelly Tarlton’s proved it. After slipping out of its tank, it crawled across the floor and into another exhibit’s water system.
Staff found it hiding in a pipe, unharmed but clearly determined to explore.
6. The German Octopus That Flooded a Lab
Location: University of Otago, Germany Year: 2010
A lab octopus didn’t just escape—it caused chaos. Researchers found their lab flooded one morning. The culprit? An octopus that had climbed out of its tank, turned on a faucet, and let water run all night.
The octopus was found happily sitting in the overflow, proving they can manipulate human-made objects with ease.
7. The Octopus That Escaped Through a Drain
Location: Bermuda Aquarium Year: 2014
An octopus at the Bermuda Aquarium made a disappearing act by slipping through a 1-inch-wide drain hole. Staff searched everywhere before realizing the octopus had squeezed through the tiny opening and into the ocean.
This escape highlighted their ability to contort their bodies to fit through spaces seemingly too small for them.
8. The Octopus That Hid in a Coffee Cup
Location: Seattle Aquarium, USA Year: 2012
When an octopus went missing at the Seattle Aquarium, staff searched everywhere—until they found it curled up inside a coffee cup on a counter.
The octopus had climbed out of its tank, crossed the room, and squeezed into the cup, blending in perfectly.
9. The Octopus That Outsmarted a Locker
Location: Brighton, UK Year: 2016
A fisherman stored an octopus in a locked cooler. When he returned, the octopus was gone—but the lock was still secured.
The octopus had slithered out through the drainage hole, proving that even locked containers aren’t always secure against these master escape artists.
10. The Octopus That Used Tools to Escape
Location: Various (Wild Observations)
In the wild, octopuses have been seen carrying coconut shells to use as shelters. But in captivity, some have used objects to aid escapes—like stacking rocks to climb out or prying open tank lids.
This behavior shows their advanced tool-use abilities, putting them on par with some primates in intelligence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do octopuses escape so easily?
Octopuses have boneless bodies, allowing them to squeeze through tiny gaps. They’re also highly intelligent, capable of solving puzzles and manipulating objects.
Can octopuses survive out of water?
Yes, but only for short periods (usually 20-40 minutes). They can breathe air temporarily but need water to survive long-term.
Why do octopuses try to escape?
Octopuses are curious and exploratory by nature. In captivity, they may escape due to boredom, hunger, or the desire to explore.
Has an octopus ever escaped and not been found?
Yes—many, like Inky, have escaped into the ocean and were never recaptured.
Are octopuses the smartest invertebrates?
Absolutely. They exhibit problem-solving, tool use, and memory, making them one of the most intelligent creatures in the ocean.
Conclusion
Octopuses are nature’s greatest escape artists, combining flexibility, intelligence, and sheer determination to break free from captivity. Whether they’re unscrewing lids, flooding labs, or crawling across dry land, these cephalopods continue to amaze scientists and aquarium staff alike.
If you ever house an octopus, remember: no tank is truly escape-proof when a determined cephalopod is inside!
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