Nudibranchs

Hey guys and gals. I have doing a lot of reading lately at work since it has been slow. I just read an article about Nudibranchs and Sea Slugs and thought I would share some of what I have learned with all of you.

The term Nudibranch is used commonly when we speak about all sea slugs but that is not the correct term. The term Nudibranch actually only refers to the order of Nudibranch. But if you want to confuse the LFS use the term Opithobranch and that encompasses all seaslugs. Also, remember that the ending of "branch" is pronounced "brank" and rhymes with "spank".

There are many seaslugs mentioned in this article for controlling algae but I will only name a few. If you have a specific purpose, ask me and I'll review the article again.
Aplysia parvula will eat cyanobacteria and other red & green filimentous aglae.
Dolabrifera is a good one for eating diatoms and other filimentous algae.
Elysia genus seaslugs are supposed to eat Derbesia and Bryopsis. They incorporate the chloroplasts from the algae and need light to grow. They will live the best in a brightly lit aquarium. These are commonly called Lettuce Nudibranchs.
Ercolania seaslugs are reported to eat Valonia.
Bryopsis eaters are Caliphylla mediterranea, Placida dendritica, P. kingstoni, P. viridis, Limapontia capitata.
Chelidonura varians will eat the red flatworm Convolutriloba retrogemma.

If you ever notice a velvet ooze coming from your seaslugs its probably a toxin. Suck it out immediately. I guess I could have used the italic button but its too late now. Thanks everybody. Comments welcome.

Credit goes out to Marine Fish magazine.

Suzy - rarely will they ooze. Only if they get pissed off. Not all of them do it either. Bryopsis will spead like the plague if you don't do something to control it. I have read that high dKH helps to control it and so does time. Valonia is bubble algae. Derbesia is another type of algae. Do a search on google. I hope you do not want either of each.

I would get one, just don't put them in a tank with anything that would pick at them because that would trigger an oozing. I like to get the different stuff so I would ask a LFS to order one or get one on-line. Do your research first to see what the diet is of the one you want to get first. Many Seaslugs can live for weeks or months without any food so people think it is doing good when really its starving. Just shink into nothing. So make sure you can feed the one you get.

Edited by Marcus

That would definately be something to get a pic of!

Hey marcus - what does the article say about the Chromodoris? I have seen these local and they are the most colorful nudi's.. errr - seaslugs...  I've seen...

-Shane

Edited by ssilcox

I completely agree. Thanks for the info!

Yep, the pic I posted was one of the Chromodoris. There are a couple other color variations I have seen. All very colorful.

-Shane

I hate flatworm infestions! Are those flatworms the same as the ones we've discussed here before, the brownish orange ones?

I've had barnacles but with no success.  I think they need tons of phyto and I just wasn't willing to continously add it.

Adam

Small barnacles are easy to get.  Almost any type of Atlantic rock will be covered in them.  Maybe Spargur could chime in here.  That is where I got mine, anytime I bought Atlantic rock.

As for large barnacles....  I'm not sure.

Adam

I just ripped mine [barnacle] off the dock. They still seem to be
doing ok, i got some kent phytoplex to feed them. I also grapped a
tunicate that seems to multiplying since i put it in the refug.. haven't
seen the nudibranch in a few days though.