ID on Nudi

[ladybug5234]

Is this the dreaded zoa-eating nudibranch or the harmless aiptasia-eating one? What is the difference (they both look alike to me)? I have found 3 or 4 of these in my tank in the past and I always take them out just in case. My zoas don't look too hot, but there is no sign of these guys anywhere on them. I usually find them cruising the glass.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[greenbean36191]

I would say neither. This is some sort of aeolid nudibranch, all of which feed on cnidarians of some sort. Beyond that, it's hard to say what you have. Most of them look very similar and the differences are small and hard to describe. Even for people familiar with slugs, this is a difficult group to identify.

 

[LeslieH]

Especially with such a small image!

 

[bigtex52]

Aeolids are cool to look at but most of them are prone to munch on something we are trying to keep. Read about it here: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rs/index.php

 

[ladybug5234]

Yeah, I have taken at least 10 of them off my zoas in the last week alone.