Playing with "Steve" the octopus

[Youngster Dan]

Originally Posted by michika

Who named him Steve? How old is he?

I used to love watching these three octopi that the UofA Biology dept they were named after the three stooges. Their favorite things were pumpkins that students carved for a different class.

Steve picked his own name! We had visitors vote for their favorite names, and then Steve would pick one of two jars - eliminating names until we had a winner. I was hoping for the name "Octopus Prime"

I actually believe that the fact the average person (note I say average, as I name corals) name octopus is somewhat significant to our attitudes on how smart they are. I find the animals that have public names in aquariums are the mammals and octopuses - so we intrinsically place them on the same kind of level as mammals in a way.

Originally Posted by bignose

My 3 year old daughter thought Steve's video was scary lol. I had to read your text to her and explain what Steve was doing.

Haha, that made me laugh. If you watch the video without the music it is much less dramatic!

[Coralgurl]

Amazing, thank you for sharing! Please keep sharing your progress with Steve, I find these creatures fascinating and your relationship is just unbelievable. Are you his sole handler or is there a team and are his responses the same with everyone or is each unique?

[Youngster Dan]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

Amazing, thank you for sharing! Please keep sharing your progress with Steve, I find these creatures fascinating and your relationship is just unbelievable. Are you his sole handler or is there a team and are his responses the same with everyone or is each unique?

Thanks

I probably handle him the most, but there are a couple other aquarists who play with him as well. The first day I tried to play with him he was very eager and receptive to be touched - they are fast learners!