Majestic sea slug

[Effervescentemi]

Hello, I've found this amazing looking little sea slug in my 10g softie tank. It's 5 or 6 mm long, and has been there at least a month (since I last added anything) none of my corals seem bothered by it, and the blenny that chomped it spat it out immediately. But I'm guessing it's probably starving. Can anyone help me ID it, or if it's a known species, advise me on how to feed it? It's spectacular and I'd like to give it the best chance for survival that I can. I don't know where it came from geographically. Thanks for your time.

 

[cloak]

It looks kind of like the Elysia sea slug in the links below.

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/elysia.shtml

 

[Effervescentemi]

You're right! the elysia I'd seen in my searches were all green, so I didn't recognize it. Now to find out what they eat...

Thank you Cloak!

 

[hotelbravo]

i agree looks like an elysia.

 

[Effervescentemi]

Update: I actually have 2 of these sea slugs in my tank!

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Have you found out anything about what they eat? Beautiful creatures for sure!

 

[hotelbravo]

If it is an elysia than they eat algae. They actually suck the juices out of the algae and leave the outer shell of the algae intact. They use the chloropaste within the algae to build up a supply within its own body and through a pretty cool conversion they can use that to make their body convert light into food. After well fed they have been documented living up to a year living completely off light since its body can now convert light into food

 

[Effervescentemi]

I was wondering if I've been seeing them cruising around the live rocks because they're looking for food. I don't have any obvious green alga in my tank, so I don't know when their last meal was. I do feed my softies live phyto every other day or so, which doesn't quite fit with the feeding habits Hodge outlined, but maybe it's enough for them to survive? Conversely, does anyone think it would be worthwhile to move some of the chaeto from my refugium into the display just so I've got something with chloroplasts for them to munch on?

 

[Effervescentemi]

Soooo... Maybe the sea slugs aren't starving. They got together for some sexy time and 69s tonight. Here's some slug porn::eek1:

 

[Effervescentemi]

I did put chaetomorpha in my display, and the elysias are all over it. I think they will have a long happy life with good food and good company. Hodge, you have my thanks for helping me figure out how to feed them. Gracias