Recently, while browsing the web, I came across numerous images of Glaucus atlanticus both on scientific forums and photo sharing sites. This animal is more commonly known as the Blue Dragon. Blue Dragons are rare, and are a type of sea slug (which is a mollusk). They float on top of water using the water's surface tension, and utilize an air sac on their ventral (otherwise known as the belly) side, so it floats upside down. Their pattered blue coloration provides protection from all sides.
So, the first thing I did was research some more. Sadly, I was disappointed.
Apparently, the Blue Dragon eats Portuguese Man o' Wars, a species of Cnidaria (the phylum that includes jellyfish) that look like jellyfish but are actually a colony of specialized organisms that really can't survive with each other. Anyways, the Man o' War is really, really poisonous. The Blue Dragon can eat the Man o' War because it has stronger poison. Where does it get the poison from? When it eats Man o' War, it separates out all the strongest poisons and stores them in special sacs in their body. So.
My ultimate conclusion: Blue Dragons should not be pets...sadly. Unless if you want to go find Man o' Wars every day to feed your little tiny cute deadly evil Blue Dragon.
I really don't think it's worth being stung by a Blue Dragon just so you can keep one as a pet.
I really don't know how the guy in the picture has the courage to hold the animal with his bare hands.
