Another ID

[john1979]

What the heck is this? It's a purple slug with green spikes! It's truly amazing to see all of the life that's emerging from my live rock after just 2 months.

<a href="http://s1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc519/John_Hain/?action=view&current=IMG_45922.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc519/John_Hain/IMG_45922.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[museumguy]

Looks like a nudibranch to me. Some are harmless or beneficial but many eat corals or other beneficial animals.

I don't know the species, there are many many different kinds. If it were me I'd probably isolate it at the very least until I can figure out exactly what it is.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I would guess nudibranch also. The coral eaters generally take on the color of the coral they eat. Did you recently add anything green to your tank?

 

[john1979]

I haven't recently added anything, but I do have some zoas and green star polyps are a similar color. I was able to pull it out of the tank and I have it in a bucket of saltwater. What should I do now? Is it safer to get rid of it, or is there way to find out if it's a good nudibranch?

Thanks again for all the help. I really appreciate it!

John

 

[NirvanaFan]

I'd just get rid of it. I don't trust nudibranches. If you really wanted to see if it was a coral eater, you could put it on the coral and see if it eats it. I wouldn't take the chance though.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

They do take the color of the coral they eat. Before I learned to dip new corals. I got those little guys in my first tank. They were pretty rainbows of colors until I realized the color was coming from the coral they are eating. The problem is that if you see one of them there are 5 hiding and they are a ***** to remove.

 

[john1979]

Thanks everyone. It's been removed. I'm just lucky I was able to find it again. Here's hoping that there was only one in my tank...

On a related note, what's the best way to prevent these critters from entering your tank in the first place? I've got a quarantine tank setup (now), but what about dips and other treatments? I've done some research online, but it seems like everyone does something different. Are there one or two "must-do" treatments? Or is it different for every coral?

 

[DEEP BLUE SIX]

What color are your zoas? Any green zoas?
I don't think your nudi is a safe one.

There are a dozen or more "safe" nudis.
Some eat aipstasia, some eat various Algae, some eat Sponge.
But none of these are even really easy to keep without expertise and a supplement somehow of the various food each species eats, once the natural existing amount in ones tank is gone. Also the reason why not too many are sold.

Most of the numerous others(the majority) are not reef safe and I believe yours is one of the zoa or other coral eating type of culprits.

You've got that one isolated. BUT keep an eye out for others. Around various sides of the rock and in & around zoas. Even between them. Pick them out with tweezers. Watch out for egg sacks too. In around rock, or corals. Pick or vaccuum suck them out. They like to lay them near or in their favorite coral dinner.

If you do find anymore around corals, like others said.. dipping the coral may help too. Definitely KEEP an EYE on it though. Like already said... you may not see anymore at a certain time. But where there's one.. There's a strong chance there's more.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

I would pull out that similar colored coral and check for the egg sacks and little guys.
I use this to dip.

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