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Breaking the Squid Barrier

Posted by timothy on from the calimari-for-the-5000 dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Dr. Steve O'Shea of Auckland, New Zealand is attempting to break the record for keeping deep sea squid alive in captivity, with the goal of being able to raise a giant squid one day. Right now, he's raising the broad squid, sepioteuthis australis, from egg masses found in seaweed. This is a lot harder than it sounds, because the squid he's studying grow rapidly and eat only live prey, making it hard for them to keep the squid from becoming prey themselves. If his research works out, you might one day be able to visit an aquarium and see giant squid."

7 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Squidcam by biryokumaru · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Well, until they have them at Coney Island, I'll just keep my eye on the squidcam. I wonder how long I can control it for...

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  2. I don't think... by Antony-Kyre · · Score: 1, Insightful

    giant squids were meant to live in captivity. Seems kind of cruel. But, oh well.

    1. Re:I don't think... by sexconker · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I don't think giant squids were meant to live in captivity. Seems kind of cruel. But, oh well.

      I don't think humans were meant to live in captivity, but here we fucking are. Wake up in a box, go to work in a different box, come home to the first box, repeat.

      On weekends we to stay in the first box; Sometimes we come out, but typically our weekends are spent maintaining the box.

      A captive squid is no more cruel than a captive cow or a captive cat or the fly buzzing around trying to go through your window.

    2. Re:I don't think... by timmarhy · · Score: 2, Insightful
      "meant to"? who sets those rules anyway. have you asked a squid if it likes it or not? maybe they fucking LOVE being in captivity, for all you know they hate having to swim about all day trying to find food with the threat of starvation ever present.

      My dog wasn't meant to live inside either, but that doesn't stop him howling at the back door wanting to come in and jump all over the bed.

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  3. Why does the caged squid sing? by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That isn't singing. Air is escaping from the squid's pores because there isn't enough atmospheric pressure at sea level to properly hold the colloidal structure together which makes it sound like the squid is singing.

    Feeding is only one aspect of caring for giant squids.

  4. Only live prey? by nicknamenotavailable · · Score: 2, Insightful

    eat only live prey

    So what do they plan to feed them once they become "giant" ?

    chickens?
    goats?
    cows?

    Just stand back from the pool, will ya?

  5. Re:A simple plan by stockard · · Score: 1, Insightful

    You could also keep it as a defense for your island fortress against James Bond a la Dr. No! (The novel, not the movie.)