A major concern and problem when isolating individuals in separate rearing
containers is that growth of the juveniles may become restricted. Analysis of statolith
increments from the juvenile S. lessoniana used in this experiment revealed a very sharp
and dramatic drop in increment width at the point of containment (Jackson and
Moltschaniwskyj, in press). This was assumed to be a record of a drop in growth
associated with transfer from large tanks to small containers. Although statolith
increments never returned to the same width as prior to transfer, a divergence in
increment width between the groups of squid was ascribed to a difference in growth due
to ration. Therefore, although there is some evidence that the rearing containers may
have compromised growth, the difference in growth during the experiment was sufficient
to satisfy the aims of the experiment.