Nudibranchs
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1567
Printed Date: November 24 2024 at 10:54am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Nudibranchs
Posted By: Marcus
Subject: Nudibranchs
Date Posted: December 29 2003 at 6:02pm
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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. |
Replies:
Posted By: Suzy
Date Posted: December 30 2003 at 7:23am
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Marcus, what if I'm at work when it oozes toxin? Do I want one in my
tank, or should I just enjoy our bryopsis? What is Derbesia? And Valonia? Where can I get one of each? |
Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: December 30 2003 at 9:58am
| 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. |
Posted By: ewaldsreef
Date Posted: December 30 2003 at 2:45pm
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Marcus I have heard that Nudibranchs are very difficult to keep and sont last long. I have been very interested in purchasing one not for algea control but because they are very good looking. I am not sure what type it is but I have seen the purple ones in local stores. Would you recomend buying one? Thanks for posting this btw. ------------- Contact me for professional aquarium maintenance and localy grown coral frags. [URL=http://www.aquatitranquility.com][/URL] |
Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: December 30 2003 at 3:09pm
| 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. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 31 2003 at 10:57am
Jbruse has a yellow Opithobranch that is propagating or perhaps, more likely, it mated prior to it's arrival in his tank! 
It is forming little clear sacs on it's side. There are about 6 sacs. In each sac a tiny yellow baby is growing. So far, one has dropped off and come out of it's sac. The baby was hidden when I was there and I didn't have my camera to take a pic of the adult and young, sorry. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: ssilcox
Date Posted: December 31 2003 at 11:46am
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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
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Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: December 31 2003 at 2:16pm
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Chromodoris:
a. survive anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months in captivity b. they have short livespans in nature as well, not much longer than a couple months c. almost impossible to feed, "cruel" to keep an animal that will inevitably starve d. kind of like buying a bouquet of flowers, "look very pretty for a while, then they die." Hope that helps. If I was going to buy a seaslug, I would buy one that I knew I could feed. |
Posted By: ssilcox
Date Posted: December 31 2003 at 5:55pm
| I completely agree. Thanks for the info! |
Posted By: ewaldsreef
Date Posted: December 31 2003 at 10:35pm
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So that pic ssilcox posted is the Chromodoris? That is what I wanted but I am not going to buy something just to watch it die. ------------- Contact me for professional aquarium maintenance and localy grown coral frags. [URL=http://www.aquatitranquility.com][/URL] |
Posted By: ssilcox
Date Posted: December 31 2003 at 11:23pm
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Yep, the pic I posted was one of the Chromodoris. There are a couple other color variations I have seen. All very colorful. -Shane
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Posted By: tomason
Date Posted: January 02 2004 at 8:51am
I put a Chelidonura varians ("velvet nudribranch" at LFS) in my tank here at work to eat flatworms, and it's really quite fascinating to watch! It has a broad head with hairs on it and a little mouth in the middle which sucks the flatworms right up. I came back to work after Christmas, and it had doubled in size. I think the flatworms are reproducing faster than the slug can eat them though. 
I have noticed slime all over the tank. It just disappears after a couple hours though. It's completely clear, so I can only see the bubbles which are trapped in it to know it's there. I just thought it was poop or something. It doesn't appear to be causing problems though, because I've had the slug for 2-3 weeks, and nothing has died or anything. Even the BTA is all out and bubble-tipped. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 02 2004 at 10:39am
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I hate flatworm infestions! Are those flatworms the same as the ones we've discussed here before, the brownish orange ones? ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: djangoboots
Date Posted: January 02 2004 at 11:25am
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I found a nuibranch stow away!
I was down at the floating dock collecting stuff to put in my refugium (macros n stuff) a few days later i notice this funny looking white thing in there and sure enough it's some local nudibranch. thought that was pretty cool. I can't really ID him though as it so small, but I am assuming that it eats whatever it is it came in on. I am going to try and go back and get some more stuff. I know this is off topic but has anyone ever tried keeping barnicles? I grabbed a couple of them, they seem to be ok, but I am not too sure about feeding them. ------------- 125g whannabe reef 30g FW w/puffers |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: January 02 2004 at 6:00pm
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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 ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: January 02 2004 at 7:58pm
| I would like to try barnicles. Any ideas on where to get them? |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: January 03 2004 at 10:04am
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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 ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 03 2004 at 10:00pm
Same here. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Adam Blundell wrote:Posted By: djangoboots
Date Posted: January 05 2004 at 8:35am
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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. ------------- 125g whannabe reef 30g FW w/puffers |
Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: January 05 2004 at 11:47am
| djangoboots - where? |
Posted By: djangoboots
Date Posted: January 05 2004 at 2:00pm
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Oh that's right, I am in charleston SC. Maybe we should set up an
exchange. You guys send me good stuffs from your tank and I can send you stuff that I rip off of docks LOL. I have been getting some pretty cool macros though they have lots of 'bugs' in them (only from one of the spots i go to) so i put them in FW for a while to knock em off. It's kinda too bad though since i am sure there are some good copepods and isopods in these macros, but i am scared to let them in my tank. ------------- 125g whannabe reef 30g FW w/puffers |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 05 2004 at 11:41pm
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Oh man oh man....I cannot believe that. You have the oceans natural resources right there and are killing all kinds of stuff that would be so great in your tank!
I'm sorry but IMO you're working your aquarium a little off from how I would do it. Adam Blundell and Seti007 have come back with stuff from Florida and have graciously shared it with me. We did not FW dip any of it as far as I know. The attitude that I feel is needed by the successful reef hobbyist is to get as much natural diversity as possible and let it rule! Don't mess with Mother Nature too much. She knows what she is doing, even in our little ecosystems! ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: djangoboots
Date Posted: January 06 2004 at 8:54am
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Well, then next time I won't dip anything. It's just that there was alot
of critters on it and I thought I should error on the side of caution. It's not like i can't just walk right down the street and get some more. I'll have to somehow get a picture of all the stuff in those macros, do I really want all of them, good and bad? ------------- 125g whannabe reef 30g FW w/puffers |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: January 06 2004 at 9:15am
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I'll agree with Mark and say yep! Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |