ID eggs please

[57vert]

So Friday I find this "ball of angel hair" looking stuff in my tank. The ball is just smaller than a golf ball. The strands are about 1/16" across, and after examination under a microscope, the eggs are about ten across in the strand.

I've added a link to a pic, which is a little fuzzy, that shows a 3" section of the strand.

Any thoughts?

http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc228/57vert/?action=view&current=seahorses001.jpg

 

[greenbean36191]

Got a sea hare?

 

[57vert]

yes, but my research says they lay ribbons of eggs, this is a string.

But as I was contemplating this, it is about the only thing big enough to produce that amount of eggs.

Are they self fertilizing? Forget the scientific word.

 

[LeslieH]

Nudibranchs produce egg ribbons. Sea hares produce egg strings. This page from the Sea Slug Forum has images of several different types of egg masses http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall.cfm?base=eggsmisc

Sea hares are simultaneous hermaphrodites - they have both male and female functional reproductive systems. When they mate the two individuals cross-fertilize each other.

 

[57vert]

So, I'm pretty sure it's my sea hare.

But, since I only have one, the eggs will not be fertilized?

And I should remove the mass to avoid fouling my water?

Thanks for the help!

 

[greenbean36191]

If you only have one then most likely the eggs are infertile. Some slugs can store sperm for short periods, but I'm not sure about sea hares. Even if they were fertile, the larvae wouldn't survive in a reef tank anyway. I would go ahead and remove the eggs.

I would also keep a close eye on the slug itself. Laying infertile eggs is often a sign that the end is near for them.

 

[57vert]

Will keep an eye on it.

Thanks for the info