An artificial diet, made up principally of chemicals set in agar, has given good growth in the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang (13 and 29% increases in live weight in two trials of 24- and 16-day periods, respectively, at 28.5 °C). Spawn production accounted for 65 and 29%, respectively, of these increases in weight. The role that such a diet may play in the study of nutrition and feeding preferences of sea hares and of other marine invertebrate herbivores is discussed.
The Effect of Photoperiod on Growth and Egg Production of the Sea Hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang