My Berghia Verrucicornis Nudibranch Breeding Tank Log *pics*

[reefmaint]

Yeah, Although Berghia have no known predators on the reef, Peps are definaltely a no-no. Peppermint shrimps aren't really from the reef and are not reef safe nomatter what people say. They are usually found around docks and things like that. They will eat Berghia if given the opportunity and they Berghia's sting is usless against them.

peps are fine in reefs... it is CAMEL that arnt and they look similar.

 

[greenbean36191]

Any eggs hatching yet? It should start happening any day now.

Apparently, the newly hatched slugs do need smaller anemones. If they don't have access to them they don't develop cerata (the tentacles on their backs). Using small bits of larger anemones doesn't seem to work either. It's great that I just found this out today, right?

 

[xouttheeyes]

Sorry i'm probably a little slow. If they're herms, then they don't need a mate for reproduction purposes. Correct?

 

[greenbean36191]

Hermaphrodite just means they have both male and female reproductive organs. These guys are not self fertilizing though, so they still need a mate. During mating, both slugs can simultaneously fertilize each other. They can "catch" and "pitch" at the same time. Some slugs will even form mating chains or mating rings, where each slug is mating with the slug in front of and behind it.

 

[blide]

I just wanted to show you my new crew of zoo eating nudi's that hatched. I'm going to conduct different tests on them to help others with their problems. Thanks for the inspiration....

hehe the freaks come out at night!

 

[greenbean36191]

Hey blide, I think that's a great idea. There is very little known about these guys and pretty much anything your record will be new info. The other day someone asked how long the eggs take to hatch, but I don't think anyone really knows. I'm sure Dr. Rudman at www.seaslugforum.net would love to see anything you learn.

 

[graphixx22]

Sulp......... Congrats once again it sounds like everything is well on its way!!! does anyone know how long it takes from time of hatch to be visible with the naked eye? That should be interesting. You should see a lot of them start popping up. Now you should have evidence of babies around the tank by just seeing the smaller aptasia dying off correct? And also do the males seem to have a pref of larger or smaller aptaisia or they equal opportunity predators?

 

[plancton]

It is not true you need hundreds of them, I have only one that came with the live rock, 3 big aiptasias have dissapeared, don't know if they just moved, but haven't seen them again. I saw baby aiptasias that I was targeting to inject them with vinager when they grow, but then they dissapear, and finally I saw how the Berghia ate a whole baby aiptasia.

 

[sulp]

reefmaint- Peps are definately not "fine" in reefs. Some people have no problems with them...others do. My definition of "reef safe" is a creature that when put in my tank won't damage, torment, or eat anything that I desire to keep. For example: The Berghias that I put in my tank are there to do a job and I desire to keep them around. And although they have no known predators, peppermint shrimp will eat them. So with that fact alone, peppermint shrimp are NOT reef safe in my system.

 

[69vette]

My definition of "reef safe" is a creature that when put in my tank won't damage, torment, or eat anything that I desire to keep.

Then I guess everyones definition of "reef safe" is different.

 

[sulp]

GB- I have about 10-12 egg sacks that I can see. But there are probably more. I have been watching the older eggs but haven't noticed any hatching yet. Do you know wheather each sack will hatch all at once or can some eggs from one sack hatch one day and the rest the next day? The reason I ask is because I noticed one sack had some eggs missing from it and I didn't know wheather they had hatched or if a pod (i have seen pod's checking out the egg sacks on occasion) had eaten them. Since I have heard that pods will eats these eggs I think I may move the egg sacks that I can into another holding tank that will be pod free. It should be pretty easy because in the bottom of the tank with the nudis are pebble sized smooth rocks. Most of the egg sacks are on these pebbles that can easily be lifted out and moved. I don't believe it is a huge problem because there are a bunch of egg sacks and tons of pods and I have only noticed one of the egg sacks missing eggs and I'm not even 100% sure that the pods were to blame. And if it does become a problem I have a place to move the eggs so they can't be eaten.

As for the juvis needing smaller anemones, I have a ton of small ones spreading from the larger ones that have been in the tank so it shouldn't be a problem. Why would the juvis not eat pieces of cut-up larger anemones? The adults have no problem eating smaller cut pieces. I plan to try the "cut-up" method first with the juvis because it will be easier this way. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[sulp]

Oh, and I also wanted to add that the Berghias that I put in my display (3 of them) to eat the aiptasia that was starting to spread are fine and doing their jobs. I was a little nervous because I hadn't seen them since the day I put them in and I had noticed hermit crabs hanging around the area I had put them which was up high on a piece of Tonga. I thought maybe the hermits had gotten to them. But low and behold I saw them over the weekend all brown, plump and happy hovering all around the area where the aiptasia seems to be the worst. And although I haven't really noticed a dent in the aiptasia that are visable I know they are eating it from somewhere. Hopefully they are getting all the ones hidden in the rock that I could never get to. And now that I know they are all ok, I'll keep you updated on the progress and let you know how long it takes to notice a significant dent in the overall population.

 

[greenbean36191]

Do you know wheather each sack will hatch all at once or can some eggs from one sack hatch one day and the rest the next day?

I'm not sure since I've never been around when they were hatching, but I would imagine the majority would hatch within a few hours if they are going to hatch at all.

Why would the juvis not eat pieces of cut-up larger anemones?

I don't have a clue, that's just what Dr. Kempf said. I trust that he knows what he's doing.

 

[sulp]

GB- I know when they eggs hatch they will be very small but do you think I will see anything at all? Tiny dots moving around maybe?

 

[greenbean36191]

It's possible. They are about 200 um (about twice the width of a hair), and if you have perfect vision you should be able to see down to 100 um. I really doubt you'll see them against all of the others stuff in the tank though. If they were cruising around on clean glass and the lighting was right you could see them.

 

[graphixx22]

Sulp. you have been pretty quiet what has been happening in your world? how is everything going. just checking in I am very curious to see how this is all going to work out. seems so far so good.

 

[sulp]

graphixx.....I'm just waiting it out for now. All the Berghias are healthy, eating well and laying eggs all over the place. In fact they are eating a lot more now then they ever have before which is concerning me a bit. I haven't been updating on a regular basis because I don't really have any new news. The eggs should start hatching like crazy any day now and once they do and I can confirm that I have living juvinile berghias I will TRY to get some pics and at that point I will start to update on a regular basis. Thanks for taggin' along!

 

[greenbean36191]

A new paper came out recently and apparently the Berghia verrucicornis in the trade isn't Berghia at all, but Aeolidella stephanieae, which is a newly described species. It doesn't change anything other than the name, but I figured it was interesting. It shows how little we know about sea slugs.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

:lol: Well, if it eats aptasia, it doesn't matter what it's name is. JK. Do you have a recent pic for us? Nothing special, just a broad pic would work to please me

 

[sulp]

Yes, I will post some photos tonight. 2 of the 4 have almost doubled in size since I got them. I have to get more Aiptasia from my local LFS because these guys eat non stop.....or so it seems.

GB- Thanks for the info! Very interesting! How did we confuse them with the Berghia? So are you saying that there are now 2 known species that feed exclusively on Aiptasia? Or does an actual Berghia not eat it at all?