sea slugs?
- Thread starter chinaman34cents
- Start date
Actually, that's Chromidoris bullocki, a purple Nudibranch. There is some confusion or dissent regarding their diet. A good LFS near me has had a slew of these dudes in stock recenty, so I have been speaking with the employees and customers about it. The consensus is that it eats sponges. Almost everyone who bought one reported back that the thing went to town on sponges, was caught on them numerous times.
Also, I do not think it is toxic.
The orange things on it's back are gills. Here's a link to some more nudi pix:
http://www.divegallery.com/morebran.htm
Also, I do not think it is toxic.
The orange things on it's back are gills. Here's a link to some more nudi pix:
http://www.divegallery.com/morebran.htm
Without risking sounding like an arse, nudibranchs should not be imported. The vast majority have very specific animalian diets that we simply cannot provide for in aquaria. This, coupled with their toxicity (denoted by their bright colouring), makes them a terrible candidate for our tanks.
By the way, that animal is Hypselodoris bullocki. As noted, it is a sponge feeder, although the specific species it feeds on is unknown. Lots of good info on the animal at http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&i...elodoris+bullocki+site:seaslugforum.net&meta=.
I would return the animal for a refund and suggest that the LFS avoid bringing nudibranchs in in the future, except perhaps Berghia verrucicornis.
By the way, that animal is Hypselodoris bullocki. As noted, it is a sponge feeder, although the specific species it feeds on is unknown. Lots of good info on the animal at http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&i...elodoris+bullocki+site:seaslugforum.net&meta=.
I would return the animal for a refund and suggest that the LFS avoid bringing nudibranchs in in the future, except perhaps Berghia verrucicornis.
LOL, too late, you already sound kinda cranky there bub. 
So hey maybe you can clear this up ...
The nudi on the page you linked doesn't look like the one the original person posted. Halfway down the page there is a link to a color morph of that species: Hypselodoris apolegma
http://www.seaslugforum.net/images/m7112a.jpg
But still, the color pattern at the edges doesn't look like the one pictured, it's more of a hard line than the dithered fade in the one you linked. I looked up more pix of Chromodoris bullocki, and surprise! They look just like H. apolegma.
WTF is going on? They are in some cases sharing the bullocki name and now the same nudi also has multiple latin names.
and STILL, on top of that, none of them exactly match the one originally posted, with the hard line around the outside, instead of the fade. maybe it's just the pic. maybe the fade is there or something.
*shrug*
So hey maybe you can clear this up ...
The nudi on the page you linked doesn't look like the one the original person posted. Halfway down the page there is a link to a color morph of that species: Hypselodoris apolegma
http://www.seaslugforum.net/images/m7112a.jpg
But still, the color pattern at the edges doesn't look like the one pictured, it's more of a hard line than the dithered fade in the one you linked. I looked up more pix of Chromodoris bullocki, and surprise! They look just like H. apolegma.
WTF is going on? They are in some cases sharing the bullocki name and now the same nudi also has multiple latin names.
and STILL, on top of that, none of them exactly match the one originally posted, with the hard line around the outside, instead of the fade. maybe it's just the pic. maybe the fade is there or something.
*shrug*
Looks like Rudman is as confused as us. He is not sure whether H. bullocki and H. apolegma are in fact distinct species either, as you can see on http://www.seaslugforum.net/hypsapol.htm and http://www.seaslugforum.net/hypsbull.htm. There are other names brought into play, including Risbecia apolegma. Remember the discussions on fairy wrasse color variants - similar problems. :?
So it seems like everyone that I’ve talked to says they’re bad too keep in the aquarium because its going to die no matter what. So I should just pull it out? Or try to feed it? Has anyone had hands-on experience with these things?? My slug has found a live rock that he likes and just sits there all day, moving maybe an inch or so. Could it be feeding on the algae on the rock?
Damn they look nice but pain in my ass.
thanks
-david
Damn they look nice but pain in my ass.
thanks
-david
thx teevee.
chinaman34cents, you might as well keep the nudi and enjoy it for now. you already bought it and stuff. i guess if it's chilling out in one spot, maybe it found something it likes to eat. can you see its mouth working? is it just sitting there or is it eating? maybe you could see if it's eating algae or coraline (do nudi's eat coraline? don't think so), or something growing on your rock.
chinaman34cents, you might as well keep the nudi and enjoy it for now. you already bought it and stuff. i guess if it's chilling out in one spot, maybe it found something it likes to eat. can you see its mouth working? is it just sitting there or is it eating? maybe you could see if it's eating algae or coraline (do nudi's eat coraline? don't think so), or something growing on your rock.
The diet of that specific nudibranch is some sort of sponge. Almost every nudibranch is a carnivore. The animal is doomed either way, but personally I would take it back to the store and let them know that you are displeased that they would sell an animal with such specific care requirements.
Go here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nudibran.htm
There's a ton of info there, there are links at the top of the page with more info.
If I were you, I'd return it to the LFS and complain. And not buy anything else that you don't know anything about first. Sorry to be a knob, but nudis were one of the critters I got into this hobby for and I was disappointed to learn that they are doomed in aquaria. So I settled for a lettuce nudi, that I can care for.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nudibran.htm
There's a ton of info there, there are links at the top of the page with more info.
If I were you, I'd return it to the LFS and complain. And not buy anything else that you don't know anything about first. Sorry to be a knob, but nudis were one of the critters I got into this hobby for and I was disappointed to learn that they are doomed in aquaria. So I settled for a lettuce nudi, that I can care for.
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