Id this nudibranch/flatworm ?

[rburn99]

I just found this in my tank.
Can anyone tell me what it is and if it is harmful or beneficial?
I currently have it isolated until I can find out what it is. It's anywhere from 1/4 inch to 1 inch depending on how stretched out it is. And despite the pictures from my camera, it looks predominantly pink or red and white.

 

[Anonymous]

It's a nudi...and its most likely feeding on something. Pretty.

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like a Nudi that would eat some specific species of Sponge (total guess).

 

[Anonymous]

It's a Chromodoris spp. nudibranch. Likely a sponge eater.

 

[Anonymous]

Well it is from the family: Chromodoridae, but the genus is Durvilledoris. From those pictures looking at the coloration of the foot and what I can make out of the gills and rhinophores I would say Durvilledoris pusilla.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[rburn99]

David,

Thanks for the help. After looking up Durvilledoris pusilla I believe you got it. Any idea on what it feeds on or if it would be safe to keep? It does look cool. I have found a lot of sites that mention Durvilledoris pusilla but I haven't found any that mention their diet or how they relate to a reef aquarium.

Thanks again,
Robb

 

[Anonymous]

Well it is from the family: Chromodoridae, but the genus is Durvilledoris. From those pictures looking at the coloration of the foot and what I can make out of the gills and rhinophores I would say Durvilledoris pusilla.

Regards,
David Mohr

Good call. I stand corrected.

 

[Anonymous]

All members of Chromodoridae are specialized Porifera (sponge) predators.
Like all Nudibranches I suspect they are voracious feeders, without the proper prey species and probably enormous quantities they will starve to death in the average reef aquarium.
Sorry.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[mike90]

are they safe to keep?

 

[Anonymous]

are they safe to keep?

I believe David is saying that it won't be around long enough to worry about unless you have a lot of the specific species of sponge that it eats.