Possible Baby Lettuce Nudibranch?

[B1N4RY]

After adding two Lettuce Nudibrachs into my aquarium to deal with a Bryopsis Algae issue a day or so later I stumbled across this guy moving on the glass. Not sure but to me it looks like a baby Lettuce Nudibranch. Any thoughts?

 

[peasofme]

looks like a nudi. dunno what kind

 

[pagojoe]

No, it's not a baby lettuce nudibranch. Since I can't see an exposed gill on its back, I suspect it's an arminid nudibranch. If so, it will feed on soft corals.

Cheers,



Don

 

[peasofme]

how much soft coral would that thing eat? like a zoo polyp a day? does it eat anything else? would it reproduce and become a plague?

 

[B1N4RY]

That's a good question. Also do they leave SPS Corals or clams alone?

 

[pagojoe]

The problem isn't usually that you have one nibbling at one of your corals, the problem is usually that if you see one, you probably have a bunch, and they are reproducing. They aren't really generalist feeders, so that one likely only feeds on one species that's in your tank. That particular nudibranch appears to be the same species often found on "clove polyps," and you can usually find the eggs hidden under them. You don't need to worry about them bothering the other things in your tank, though, unless you just happen to have a closely-related softy that the nudibranch can also feed on.

Cheers,



Don

 

[Lambert58]

Got these from an encrusting gorginian frag a year ago, it took me a month and half to eradicate it. I had a small pair of toothed forceps that I left on the cover, every time anyone would walk past the tank they would grab any crawlers that they saw. It was slow but they are completely gone.

 

[B1N4RY]

Reply to Pagojoe,

Reply to Pagojoe,

The problem isn't usually that you have one nibbling at one of your corals, the problem is usually that if you see one, you probably have a bunch, and they are reproducing. They aren't really generalist feeders, so that one likely only feeds on one species that's in your tank. That particular nudibranch appears to be the same species often found on "clove polyps," and you can usually find the eggs hidden under them. You don't need to worry about them bothering the other things in your tank, though, unless you just happen to have a closely-related softy that the nudibranch can also feed on.

Cheers,



Don

It's funny you should mention that I purchased a small colony of Clove Corals that my wife liked (I am not into soft coral only SPS) so I took a look at the colony that I noticed had been withering away and sure enough I saw more than a few crawling around and feasting. The whole rock and the colony has been removed. Thank you for the assistance.

 

[B1N4RY]

Reply to Lambert58.

Reply to Lambert58.

Got these from an encrusting gorginian frag a year ago, it took me a month and half to eradicate it. I had a small pair of toothed forceps that I left on the cover, every time anyone would walk past the tank they would grab any crawlers that they saw. It was slow but they are completely gone.

I took your advice and got a few of the wandering stragglers like this.

 

[pagojoe]

You're welcome, good luck!