Cannibalism in Glaucus?

March 28, 2006
From: Peter Whiter

Hi Bill,
I've been at your site for a few years its great. The main reason for visiting your site tonight was to research the Glaucus, my now Girlfriend (an Artist) has seen them before on the beach and has tried to keep one in captivity (tank, maybe bucket) without much success (it lived only a day or so). today we have the left over of recent Cyclone Waves arrive here (Eden far south coast of NSW) and she found 4 on her walk ... one small about 15 mm in length one about 22 mm (very damaged), then one at about 29 mm, one at 35. After getting them home and into a tank with aeration which seemed to perk them up a bit, a strange thing happened - the largest one attacked and killed the smallest one. The next smallest one (22 mm) may now be dead as he was not doing so well this afternoon.
I guess we have a couple of questions.

1. Do they keep in captvity and how do we prolong this if it is at all possible?
2. have you ever heard of cannibalism in them?

Hope these are a fair questions to ask.

Regards
Pete

peter.whiter@gmail.com

Whiter, P., 2006 (Mar 28) Cannibalism in Glaucus?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16189

Dear Peter,
Thes are perfectly fair questions to ask. Firstly until a message last week [see #16154] I had not heard of cannibalism in Glaucus before, but Eve's photos and your observations seem to suggest that at least in close quarters their tolerance for each other is not great.

Concerning keeping them in captivity. I have tried a few times but have never managed to keep them more than 48 hours. It may be better if you start with animals collected in the open sea, but like you I have always started with animals stranded on the shore and I guess by then they have been battered by waves and left out of water on the sand for varying amounts of time.  Now I think of it, my best success has been with one or two animals only, so maybe aggressive inter-relationships in tank conditions are a factor worth considering. Perhaps you are better trying to keep a single animal.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Mar 28). Comment on Cannibalism in Glaucus? by Peter Whiter. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16189

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