Richard and all TBS owners (especially new)

[BrianPlankis]

Hey all,

One of the hitchhikers that is occasionally found on TBS rock is a nudibranch that might be Spurilla neapolitana.

I recently wrote an article about the 2 I received on my TBS rock:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-05/bp/index.php

The breeder that I sent them to has reported one of the two adults is no longer capable of reproducing (old age). If anyone sees a nudibranch in their tank, or Richard if you see one when processing rock, please let me know by replying to this thread or sending me a PM. The breeder would like to get another adult or juvenile to try to continue the breeding research on these fascinating creatures.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[elzool]

Evening Brian,

I'm sure it's just a garden variety nb, but if I can put it back, I will.

Thanks,
richard

 

[BrianPlankis]

Richard,

That looks like it could be Berghia nudibranch, nearly starved too. You could confirm it is a Berghia by introducing an Aiptasia anemone to its container and see if it will eat it.

If you have a local reef club I bet somebody would be interested in having it. You could try contacting a Berghia breeder as well as they might be interested in increasing their brood stock.

Since it looks nearly starved, I would find someone to donate an aiptasia to you ASAP to confirm it is a Berghia (or related nudibranch). Just don't put the Aiptasia in your tank

More info on them here:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/ac/feature/index.php

If you do this test, I would like to know how it goes

Brian

 

[elzool]

Brian, will this nudi eat anything else at all?

I'd hate to see it starve before I can get an aptasia or get it donated.

 

[BrianPlankis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7529060#post7529060 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elzool
Brian, will this nudi eat anything else at all?

I'd hate to see it starve before I can get an aptasia or get it donated.

If it really is a Berghia (likely, but the picture is a little fuzzy), Aiptasia is the only food they will eat. When I first discovered my nudibranchs I just put a post on our general reefkeeping forum for my local club with the title "GIVE ME YOUR AIPTASIA" and I had offers within a few hours and picked some up the next day.

Of course if you don't have a local club, then that is trouble. You could also try going to a LFS and seeing if they have any aiptasia in their tanks. I rarely have seen a LFS without at least a few

Brian

 

[elzool]

Gotcha

Going to a meeting tomorrow, hopefully someone sees my post about it today.

Thanks!

 

[elzool]

this here innerweb machine sure is nice

you tell me to find it a home, i find out that a frag auction is taking place locally, then find out someone going to it posted yesterday about an aiptasia problem and wants Berghias

i found it a home, he'll id it first and if its the right thing, he has plenty for it to chow on

thanks Brian!

 

[BrianPlankis]

No problem! If it really is a Berghia then this guy will be happy.

He should feed it one Aiptasia in a cup first (to verifty it is Berghia verrucicornis or Aeolidiella stephanieae) and ideally he should setup a small (10-20 gallon) tank as a home for the Berghia and rotate his Aiptasia covered rock into that home until each piece is clean. A small powerhead with a sponge covering the intake should prevent death of the nudibranch. I've heard of stories of people buying expensive Berghia and releasing them into their tank only to have their Tunze turn it into tiny little pieces

I should be thanking you for taking the time to ID a hitchhiker before flushing it. This is a good lesson for everyone getting TBS rock to take a little time to ID things.

To be extra safe be sure to do a WC on the holding cup tonight so it doesn't run out of Oxygen.

Please report back here if it turns out to eat Aiptasia.

Brian

 

[liverock]

Re: Richard and all TBS owners (especially new)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7505917#post7505917 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CirolanidHunter
Hey all,

One of the hitchhikers that is occasionally found on TBS rock is a nudibranch that might be Spurilla neapolitana.

I recently wrote an article about the 2 I received on my TBS rock:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-05/bp/index.php

The breeder that I sent them to has reported one of the two adults is no longer capable of reproducing (old age). If anyone sees a nudibranch in their tank, or Richard if you see one when processing rock, please let me know by replying to this thread or sending me a PM. The breeder would like to get another adult or juvenile to try to continue the breeding research on these fascinating creatures.

Thanks,

Brian

Brian

I have never seen one in my holding tanks, but then again they are 300 gallons each, and made of opaque injected, molded plastic, which is white, so most likely I am just not seeing them...

TBS

 

[BrianPlankis]

Thanks for commenting Richard, just let me know if you happen to see one!

Brian

 

[tspfish]

I know these are terrible pictures but I have seen this only two or three time in my tank in the early morning. Unfortunetly the actnic light are the only ones on at the time. It is probably not what you are looing for but I was wondering what it is. It has bright purple tenticles at its head and tail. The second picture show a ring that I believe it left once. Unfortunetly the ring did not last long for some reason. Do you know what it is?

Thanks!

Tom

 

[liverock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7575559#post7575559 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tspfish
I know these are terrible pictures but I have seen this only two or three time in my tank in the early morning. Unfortunetly the actnic light are the only ones on at the time. It is probably not what you are looing for but I was wondering what it is. It has bright purple tenticles at its head and tail. The second picture show a ring that I believe it left once. Unfortunetly the ring did not last long for some reason. Do you know what it is?

Thanks!

Tom

The ring is the eggs of the nudi!

Usually not eaten by predators....kind of strange to have them disappear so fast!

Any ideas, Brian?

Richard TBS

 

[BrianPlankis]

Well, it looks like it could be a nudibranch and an the circle sure looks like a nudibranch egg mass.

What is your definition of long? Several species of nudibranchs have eggs that can hatch in a week or two. It might be possible they would hatch faster?

But without a better picture, I can't tell you if you have a good one or bad one. I would suggest the next time you see it that you carefully remove it (turkey baster it off the rock/glass and then scoop with a cup) and then take photos of it in a shallow cup. Then place it in a holding cup and float it in your tank or sump until you can be an opinion on it.

Dark purple tips doesn't sound like Berghia or Spurilla which are two "good" nudibranchs sometimes found on TBS rock.

Brian

 

[elzool]

This looks like the same kind I posted before, but since I just found it, I thought I'd ask. As far as I know I have no aptasia and since they don't eat anything aside from that, I doubt it is one, but I just thought I'd check.

Good, Bad or Ugly?

 

[tspfish]

Finally my creature has appeared again. I was able to get him out because he was on the top of my heater. Here are two pics of him; once again I dont think they are the best. I did get better look at him myself though. He has purple ends on his eyes and the six or seven ends on the back of him have purple ends too. He has purple spots all over his body and his body has kind of a light tan color to it. Thanks for you input

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[/IMG]

 

[BrianPlankis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7622627#post7622627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elzool
This looks like the same kind I posted before, but since I just found it, I thought I'd ask. As far as I know I have no aptasia and since they don't eat anything aside from that, I doubt it is one, but I just thought I'd check.

Good, Bad or Ugly?

elzool,

Do you still have this guy? I missed your post somehow, sorry!

Brian

 

[BrianPlankis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7672825#post7672825 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tspfish
Finally my creature has appeared again. I was able to get him out because he was on the top of my heater. Here are two pics of him; once again I dont think they are the best. I did get better look at him myself though. He has purple ends on his eyes and the six or seven ends on the back of him have purple ends too. He has purple spots all over his body and his body has kind of a light tan color to it. Thanks for you input

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

tspfish,

I appreciate your efforts to get a better picture and an ID, but those pictures are just too fuzzy sorry A picture like the one just above here by ezlool is the bare minimum in terms of quality to help out on an ID. Your pictures appear to be at an angle, the angle of the shot makes reflection from the room light and camera flash worse and makes good pictures difficult.

If you can try to take a picture from directly above the nudibranch and holding a magnifying glass in front of the camera lense could possibly help.

Purple doesn't sound like a Berghia or Spurilla sp. nudibranch.

Brian

 

[elzool]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7674048#post7674048 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CirolanidHunter
elzool,

Do you still have this guy? I missed your post somehow, sorry!

Brian

I no longer have it. My 2 year old managed to spill juice into the container while looking at it and even after an almost immediate water change it was dead 24 hours later. I don't know if it was the juice or what.

 

[BrianPlankis]

Oh too bad. The terrible 2s huh?

Cheers,

Brian