Nudibranch Identification

[KnownStrangeR]

We purchased some chaeto and found this guy inside of it.. anyone know if its reef safe? I hate to just kill it..

 

[LeslieH]

I'm pretty sure it's a sacoglossan sea slug which means it's an algae eater & explains why you found it in a bag of chaetomorpha

 

[KnownStrangeR]

Are they safe to put into a reef tank? I've had it in a cup since Wednesday.. I put some chaeto in there with it and I think he ate some..

 

[LeslieH]

If by reef-safe you mean it won't attack corals then it's reef safe. It only eats algae and nothing else.

 

[pagojoe]

Some of the aeolids and sacoglossans can look fairly similar, but I agree with Leslie, it's probably an algae eater. Looks pretty close to some variants of Placida dendritica.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...A2UcjYEqv82gWJo4DYCw&ved=0CEYQ9QEwBA&dur=5890

Cheers,



Don

 

[SantaMonica]

A good find, unless you have someone who will munch on them.

 

[Kiwigirl]

I too have these

I too have these

We purchased some chaeto and found this guy inside of it.. anyone know if its reef safe? I hate to just kill it..

I just purchased some chaeto from a local fish store and prior to placing in my refugium I noticed 3 guys identical to your pic in there with egg strings. Were these the sacoglossa (good alage eaters?)
See attached photo

 

[Caronte]

They looks similar to the Bergias/ Did you see it eaten?

 

[Kiwigirl]

I have had bergiha nudibranch before and these are very different. Bergiha's are a whitish color and these definitely aren't that. They seem to be thriving on the chaeto which would make them a herbivore and possible sacoglossa