"Nehmo" writes:

There are mentions on the web of an octopus climbing out of a tank,
traveling across a dry surface, going into another tank, grabbing a
fish for a meal, and then returning to their home tank. Some web-
comments say there is a video that was on TV. But I haven't found
anything like it on the web. Is this behavior possible? Is this story
true?

It seems to be accepted in the literatu

Researchers and aquarists have reported octopuses escaping
captivity despite elaborate precautions (Anderson, 1997; Wood,
1994). One of the first papers was by Lee (1875), who reported
that Brighton aquarists were puzzled by disappearing lumpfish,
until one morning when the octopus was discovered in the lumpfish
tank. More recently, Boyle (1991) wrote, "Octopuses are
particularly prone to escape from aquarium tanks. Loose lids are
of little value because the octopuses will easily lift them and
push their way out of the tank" (p. 32).

James B. Wood and Roland C. Anderson, "Interspecific
Evaluation of Octopus Escape Behavior", _Journal of
Applied Animal Welfare Science_, 7(2),95-106, 2004.

The cited references are

Anderson, R.C. (1997). _Octopus dofleini_ and _O. rubescens_:
Animal husbandry. In M.A. Lang & F.G. Hochberg (Eds.),
_Proc. workshop on fishery and market potential of octopus in
California_ (pp. 141-149). Washington, DC: Smithsonian
Institution.

Boyle, P.R. (1983). _The UFAW handbook on the care and management
of cephalopods in the laboratory_. Potters Bar, England: UAFW.

Lee, H. (1875). _The octopus_. London: Chapman Hill.

Wood, J.B. (1994). Don't fear the raptor: An octopus in the home
aquarium. _Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine_, 17, 4.

--
Evan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------
HP Laboratories |"The Dynamics of Interbeing and
1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |Monological Imperatives in 'Dick
Palo Alto, CA 94304 |and Jane' : A Study in Psychic
|Transrelational Modes."
| Calvin
(650)857-7572

http://www.kirshenbaum.net/