lettuce nudi: what requirements?

[Laurel Reese]

I have a seemingly simple question I haven't been able to find the answer for. I have read that lettuce nudis could help with my bryopsis/ hair algae problem, but was wondering what their feeding requirements are after the hair algae is gone (if it is ever gone). I have a 46 gal. with a few zoanthids, mushrooms, feather dusters. The algae is all over my larger zoanthid rock, will the nudi be able to eat that hair algae without damaging the zoanthid? Any information would be helpful, I want to make sure I don't put something in my tank that won't thrive, or be a nuisance in the future. Thanks!

 

[Laurel Reese]

Orrr if someone who has one could mention their tank's specs that would also be wonderful.

 

[bugattilambo]

actually based on my nudibranch it doesnt eat hairalgae it only eats bryopsis
what I believe is that once the bryopsis is eaten and no more algae it dies

 

[Elysia]

Which Elysia spp. do you want information about? There are at least three species that can be found for sale in the US that are frequently called "lettuce nudibranch," although they are not actually nudibranch at all.

Some Elysia spp. will eat Bryopsis for their entire lives, while for others it is known as a juvenile diet only. Other species aren't known to eat Bryopsis at all. In situ, I don't believe any of the available species were found to eat Bryopsis for their entire lives, rather, when confined to Bryopsis in a research setting, one species was able to continue to live and grow beyond the juvenile stage.