NEED HELP - Pacific Lettuce Nudibranch (Elysia diomedia)

[mwp]

OK, so with all the mandarin stuff going on, I haven't even bothered with my Pacific Lettuce Nudibranchs that are going like clockwork now. DOES ANYONE here have experience with raising Lettuce Nudis? I'd love to hand out egg ribbon and a spring of bryopsis to anyone who has the experience to try and raise them...these were a lucky find, they've been doing well, but with all the egg laying they've been doing I'm afraid my pair is coming to the end of their life cycle. The deal would be - 1. pay for the shipping, 2. if you're successful, ship me back a pair once they've reached a bit of size, and 3. TELL ME HOW THE HECK YOU DID IT!

They're currently putting down ribbons every 3-6 days now...

Let me know..

MP

 

[mwp]

BTW, some pictures to entice the experienced nudi raiser...

MP

 

[mwp]

OK, so each one laid a ribbon today now...that's 2 ribbons! Wont' be able to ship this particular set out unless someone claims them tonight (and, FWIW, they're on the back of the tank which is plastic, not glass so they're hard to remove intact).

Anyone willing to give these a shot, ESPECIALLY someone with experience?

MP

 

[jnowell]

Matt,

I've been wanting to try lettuce nudi's. I am raising Berghia's, and hav constructed a Bryopsis farm but haven't ordered broodstock yet. If you haven't already left town, I'd try a set, but i'm not too sure about the "experienced" part. I'm floating beakers in a tank and raising about 5 per beaker adding small aptasia for the little 'uns. I should have berghias ready before too long.

Let me know.

EDIT: I just read in your mandarin thread that you have left. Keep me in mind for the next set, and I'll go read up and get a system truly prepared for them. They were on my list, just hadn't been rushing it because of the lack of parents.

Jason

 

[mwp]

Jason, I'll shoot you out the first fresh ribbon I can safely harvest - shoot me a PM with your particulars and I'll get back to you with mine!

Anyone else? Hopefully we'll get a few more ribbons at least!

Matt

 

[mwp]

So, come on, someone else have some experience with nudis want to give them a shot? 2 more egg ribbons showed up yesterday...one of the pair looks to be on it's way out now (has turned very pale)...they only live a year naturally and well, I've only seen this species this ONE TIME..if we can't get any raised up successfully I don't suspect we'll see them around again anytime soon...

MP

 

[jnowell]

True, and if one of them isn't looking so good, very soon you will have infertile eggs. They are hermaphroditic, but like a lot of shrimp species, they don't fertilize their own eggs.

Somebody try some so the pressure is not all on me!!!!

Jason

 

[Paul B]

Those lettuce "nudibranch's" are slugs.
I raise Elysia Crispata.
Not as nice looking as yours, but "slugs" still the same.

 

[jnowell]

2 things Paul....why don't YOU take an egg strand and put your experience to work on it. And secdond, how much would we have to pay you to share your technique for E. Crispata.

Matt and I both know they are not a nudibranch (that whole herbivour thing gave it away ) I've read everything I can, and believe I have most of them through the veliger stage and settled out. Plenty of macros for them to sample too. To be honest though, I'm not finding any info, and I have to guess that raise E. crispata would be almost the same.

Any thoughts you could share??

Thanks,

Jason

 

[Paul B]

Jason, since my tank is set up "slug safe" I would be glad to pay shipping to get some diomedia. I raised about 150 elisia crispata. I gave most of them to a researcher and the rest, about 50 stayed in my reef for 18 months which I think is their life span. The most important thing to do is put sponge filters on all pump intakes or they turn into slug Jello. They swim like a brick and don't even hold on to things very well.
Let me know if you want to ship eggs.
Here is an article I wrote about them.
http://www.breedersregistry.org/Articles/baldassano2004/SolarPoweredSlug.htm

 

[RCS]

I was inadvertantly raising lettuce nudis last year when I had a nice Bryopsis infestation. I went from two to a couple of dozen within a week. I found that the only thing they ate was Bryopsis though.

I'd be interested in getting a strand in a few weeks when I have more tanks set up. I'll be integrating a vegetable filter into the system and can set up a nice refugium for these guys.

 

[jnowell]

Thanks for the article Paul! Matt (MWP) has the broodstock, they are still laying egg strands, but one is not looking so good, so get with him quick if you want a set, I fear our chances are waning.

Jason

 

[mwp]

Paul, RCS, if you want strands indeed, as Jason suggested, NOW is the time to get 'em. Shoot me a PM with your information (address, phone) and the moment I have one ready I'll pack it up and ship it to you (of course, you pay for shipping...I can do Fed Ex or USPS express, but at the moment I'm out of my little styros). The eggs appear to hatch rather quickly (i.e. 24 hours), this evening I'm going to scrape the one that was laid yesterday and set it up with an algae soup and see what happens....I REALLY REALLY enjoy having these and would LOVE to keep them going in captivity!

Matt

 

[Paul B]

Matt, I sent you my address and phone number. I will see if I can raise some. And of course if I do I will send you some.
Paul

 

[mwp]

Paul, just got your email and sent ya back. I hope someone is lucky enough to get a few to grow up and I hope the shipping them everywhere helps increase their odds...I suspect the UV sterlizer in their current tank isn't helping the babies that hatch out in there much!

MP

 

[Paul B]

MP I didn't get a message from you, did you send me something?

 

[RCS]

Ack! I'm really, really not set up to take in any of these guys right now. I've got my Banggai trio, my GSM pair, my yellow tang, my dusky jawfish, my two Banggai babies (1"!!), my shrimp, and ALL my SPS in 30g tank right now while the other tanks are getting set up! It's hard enough on me right now trying to take care of all this in that small of a tank. Maybe by next week if you've still got some. I've got two 45s and a 65 that I'm planning on having up within the next two days and a good source for cured live rock, so I may be up and running sooner than I expected.

You've got the Bryopsis to go with them right? I never though I'd be asking FOR Bryopsis! I get a good discount with FedEx as well, so that would be the best option and we can tag it on my account.

 

[mwp]

Well, the suggestion that F/2 would actually culture bryopsis got me thinking....otherwise I would've said no, I'm pretty strapped myself as the Diomedias keep it all in check.

So I ditched my unproductive amphipod culture in favor of a BRYOPSIS culture...heck folks could probably make money selling bryposis for the various Elysia sea slugs!

I'll keep you all posted on any additional available egg ribbons...at the moment I only have one HUGE styro to ship with though

MP

 

[olin]

Hey Matt, just found this thread- pretty cool, I've done some closely related Elysia and Tridachia from the Sea of Cortez. Lots of bryopsis and a bit of tetraselmis got them through metamorphosis pretty fast. I'd be happy to try my hand at these if you still have some in a couple of weeks. Pretty busy setting up a new lab at the moment. I'm playing with a slug right now also. Looks pretty similar but less blue and more green yellow. I'll try to shoot you some pics.

 

[mwp]

Olin, very cool. The only thing you gave them was Tetraselmis as a larval feed? How green does the water need to be?

I'm thinking I'm going to scrape out that egg ribbon on the back and give 'em a whirl in a spare 2 liter...it can't hurt, right?

MP