 Hatchlings are often cannibalistic . This is regarded as the main cause of death in young squids , particularly in dense populations . However , cannibalism usually happens only when eaten individuals were already weakened significantly or dead , so the actual cause of death may have been something else . Subadults are usually recognisable by their size , ranging from 20 to 60 mm ( 0 @.@ 79 to 2 @.@ 36 in ) in length . They reach sexual maturity at less than 210 days in the wild . Males reach sexual maturity earlier than females . In captive populations , males mature 140 days after hatching at most . Females will begin spawning at around 156 to 196 days after hatching . Both males and females mature earlier in captivity than in the wild . Water temperature may play an important role in the earlier sexual maturation of captive specimens . High temperatures may induce shorter lifespans and smaller body sizes , while cooler temperatures favour longer lifespans and larger individuals . 
