Simple lettuce nudibranch question

[somewherre]

Can I pick these things up and move them with my hands? Will I harm them? Will they try to stick to me?? :rollface: They're not the best movers or explorers, and I'd like to move them to the rocks with the bryopsis still on them instead of the clean one they keep cruising over. And over. And over...

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Yes, you can move them without harm yo your hands, but they do tend to get around well by themselves. I would not be surprised if they just make their way back to the same rock.

 

[somewherre]

Thanks. That's pretty much what they do.

 

[Paul B]

They are not nudibranchs but slugs. You can pick them up.
Here is an article I wrote about them a few years ago.
Paul
http://www.breedersregistry.org/Articles/baldassano2004/SolarPoweredSlug.htm

 

[somewherre]

Paul - thanks. Good article and interesting read. Have you since come to any conclusions regarding their lifespan? Have you successfully kept any beyond a few months?

Mine seem to be eating the bryopsis, or at least sucking it to death Before it's all gone, I think I'm going to try to set up a grow-tank for the stuff since the slugs seem to like it. I'd love to be able to keep these guys alive - they're easily the coolest things I've come across in the hobby so far.

 

[Paul B]

They all died at about 18 months.