Berghia Nudibranch Discussion/Breeding?

[Rippinfrags]

I recently added two Berghia Nudibranches to my 28-gallon tank on 5/1/13. When I received the Berghia they were in a small Tupperware container. I drip acclimated them for about an hour, turned off all of my flow and placed the Tupperware on the bottom of my tank. I then place a baseball-sized rock (that was covered with aiptasia) in the Tupperware container, being careful not to crush the berghia. After about an hour of watching the berghia I walked away for a short while and when I came back to the tank they had vanished. I never saw them again and I searched everywhere. Until about a week ago they reappeared on 5/8/13. However, the berghia that I discovered were smaller than the ones I had originally put in and there were roughly five of them. Throughout this week I have been collecting some of the babies and placing them in a breeder net that hangs on the side of my tank. In the breeder net I have a baseball-sized rock with about 10 to 15 aiptasia. So far I have collected 5 small (roughly 1cm to 3cm in length) Berghia, which have been in the breeder net since (5/9/13).

With the breeder net I hope to be able to get a rough idea of how quickly berghia nudibranches actually eat aiptasia. I know I probably should have quarantined 1 or 2 berghia, but I had too much fun trying to catch them Also I have a 58-gallon tank that is filled with aiptasia. I am going to begin to place some of my corals (mostly zoanthids) from my 58 gallon that have aiptasia on them inside the breeder net. Also, I am going to attempt to place some Berghia in my 58 gallon, but there are two Eight line Flasher Wrasses (Paracheilinus octotaenia) in the tank. I believe the wrasses will devour the Berghia's. Thoughts? I am going to try and keep them fed heavily so they are not as interested in eating the Berghia's.

Anyways, has anybody else had luck with berghia nudibranches?

Is it possible to regulate the number of berghia in your tank so they do not run out of food (Aiptasia)?

I am surprised by how hardy they are, anybody else feel this way?

Any other info regarding berghia nudibranches or aiptasia is welcome, but please do not ask about buying them in this thread.

Here is a quick picture of one of my large berghia nudibranches:



Closer up:



One with flash:

 

[Rippinfrags]

Nobody has had success with Berghia Nudibranches?

I started with two Berghia on 5/1/13. I currently have captured over 13 Berghia’s. I have 5 berghia held captive in my breeder net on the side of my tank (28 gallon), I have transferred 3+ Berghia to my 58 gallon tank and I have traded 5 in at a lfs. In my 28 gallon I can usually find a couple at any given time. My aiptasia is starting to dwindle, but I’m continuing to feed heavy in order to get the aiptasia to reproduce faster. I am curious to see if I will be able to keep the correct balance of Berghia and aiptasia. Anyways, thanks for looking and feel free to ask questions.
Here is a quick pic of a little Berghia Nudibranch that I captured:

 

[zrogst]

I'm really interested in breeding these guys - if only to say I have. That said, I don't have the space for a kreisel or proper system, let alone space for all that aiptasia farming. Maybe when I move to a house.

Keep us updated! I've been following along.

 

[azjohnny]

Where did you get them?

 

[zrogst]

There is a breeder in the flagstaff area. Liveaquaria's DiversDen has also had several trios up recently.

 

[azjohnny]

I need some and would prefer to buy local, all I have seen is mail order. Best prices I have seen is Salty Underground

 

[zrogst]

Just following OP's wishes "please do not ask about buying them in this thread."
That's all the information I have to give anyway, I didn't write down the flagstaff breeders name before all her threads were removed.

 

[Rippinfrags]

Where did you get them?

From reefcentral username: marblesojecki

There is a breeder in the flagstaff area. Liveaquaria's DiversDen has also had several trios up recently.

Yup this guy.

I'm really interested in breeding these guys - if only to say I have. That said, I don't have the space for a kreisel or proper system, let alone space for all that aiptasia farming. Maybe when I move to a house.

Keep us updated! I've been following along.

Thank You, will do.

I need some and would prefer to buy local, all I have seen is mail order. Best prices I have seen is Salty Underground

Reef Culture should have some available.

 

[drtrash]

Very cool, been hoping I could find the species that only eats hydroids but finding a source is not easy. I hear the berghia a the perfect eating machine for aipatasia

 

[Weyrman]

Do you have some pictures showing your breeder net setup?

 

[Rippinfrags]

Very cool, been hoping I could find the species that only eats hydroids but finding a source is not easy. I hear the berghia a the perfect eating machine for aipatasia

Berghia are cool and have been really interesting to watch. Good luck finding the hydroid eating type, I have only ever seen them available on live aquaria.

Do you have some pictures showing your breeder net setup?

I just snapped a few pictures, they are not the best quality, but you will get the point.

 

[reefstew]

Good job. If you need apitasia I can give you some.

 

[Weyrman]

That's a pretty slick breeding cage.

 

[Rippinfrags]

Good job. If you need apitasia I can give you some.

Thanks Bob, I will probably take you up on the aiptasia offer. Hopefully I can keep the correct balance, but im worried the berghia might take over when I go on vacation

That's a pretty slick breeding cage.

Thanks Weyrman!

 

[jcdeng]

Thanks Bob, I will probably take you up on the aiptasia offer. Hopefully I can keep the correct balance, but im worried the berghia might take over when I go on vacation

I thought they would die if your tank run out of aiptasias?

 

[Rippinfrags]

I thought they would die if your tank run out of aiptasias?

They will, which is why I have been removing berghia as quickly as I can find them. I am hoping this will allow the aiptasia to reproduce before they are all eaten by the berghia.

Did this answer your question?

 

[azjohnny]

Riley

It was good meeting you

Thanks for the Berghia, I assume they are doing well, I cant see them

Tanks looked good

 

[tdp22]

I am sure you can find ALL the people you need to take them. Breeding them is easy, I raised many in a vase no flow or light with a piece of live rock. The amount of aptasia is the real issue. Best of Luck!

 

[Rippinfrags]

Riley

It was good meeting you

Thanks for the Berghia, I assume they are doing well, I cant see them

Tanks looked good

Thanks John, it was really nice meeting you as well.

I am sure you can find ALL the people you need to take them. Breeding them is easy, I raised many in a vase no flow or light with a piece of live rock. The amount of aptasia is the real issue. Best of Luck!

Thanks tdp! I completely agree with you about aiptasia being the real issue when trying to keep berghia. No matter how diligent I am at removing the Berghia, the aiptasia dwindle quicker. I think the only way to keep the correct balance of Berghia would be in a tank with zero live rock. Once they get into the live rock it is impossible to find them or tell how many there truly are.

I recently have removed anywhere from 20 to 30 berghia from my 28 gallon. The other morning I woke up and saw roughly 10 to 15 Berghia on my sand bed. The point of my story is that within the next couple of days I will run out of aiptasia in my 28 gallon. However, I have roughly 10-15 Berghia in my 58 gallon tank that is filled with aiptasia.

 

[Rippinfrags]

Sorry for the delayed update, I have been busy. I currently have zero aiptasia in my 28 gallon tank. I removed all of the berghia I could catch. When the berghia ran out of aiptasia they started to search everywhere in the tank for food. I was able to catch 10-15 berghia in my overflow, most of them would get caught in the filter media.

I still have my breeder net in my 28 gallon that is holding a handful of berghia. It has been a real challenge to keep the berghia well fed. I have started trying to raise aiptasia in a five gallon tank in order to better feed my berghia. As of right now I am begging the lfs for the little aiptasia they have in there systems. Also reefstew has really helped me out with some much needed aiptasia. The aiptasia I get from reefstew is clear/white in color and the berghia devour it. I find it surprising how many different types of aiptasia there are out there.

My 58 gallon tank is nearly aiptasia free as well.

Here is a couple of pictues showing an unfair fight between berghias and a aiptasia The first picture was taken at 5pm and the second was taken at 6pm.