Some Strange Slug

[madmaxious]

Hello, All

I am currently going through the maturation cycle in my new set up and I have some live rock in the tank.

I have not bought any fish yet as I still have some small traces of Ammonia and Nitrite.

I have a tank slug but I am not sure if he is a good slug or a bad slug.

It is currently about 2 inches long, white withe small sticky out feather type things on its back. I will try to get a photo of the blighter soon.

I noticed it as I was arranging my Live rock into a wall. After I done the work it started to look for a new home.

If anybody has an idea of what it could be I woulkd appreciate some advice.

Thanks


Scott

[OrionGirl]

Sounds like a nudibranch--basically a flat worm. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of sea slugs/nudibranchs. Most are obligate feeders, meaning they are restricted to just one item as food. Sometimes this is algae, as with the lettuce nudibranch, but more often it a a specific type of sponge, or coral. They seldom survive long in aquariums, based on the limited ability to meet their feeding requirements.

Here's a page you can check out for identification, but I wouldn't be overly optimistic about it's odds of surviving. http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~bu6/

[madmaxious]

Hello,

Thanks for this. I will leave it alone and see ehat happens. I am trying to get a photo tonight.

Pop back and we can all have a look.

Thanks

Scott

[mogurnda]

If you get a good pic, and no one here can ID it, try the Sea Slug Forum (http://www.seaslugforum.net/welcome.htm). Bill Rudman is one of the world's experts on nudibranchs, and always seems willing to look at photos. You might also browse around and see if there is something on the site that resembles your slug.

[madmaxious]

Hello Again,

As promised here is a photo.

I am not a proffessional photographer and I was unable to get the thing out of the water without it curling up.

So here are the best two photos I could get.

Image 1 (http://www.btcustomerservice.co.uk/slug1.jpg)

Image 2 (http://www.btcustomerservice.co.uk/slug2.jpg)

If nothing else have a laugh at my photography skills.

Cheers

[OrionGirl]

Definitely a nudibranch, though I couldn't even guess a species. Pretty little thing--I'd watch it to see what it's eating, to see if you can provide for it and keep it alive. Try offering it some algae tabs and meaty foods--Formula1 frozen food might be good to try.

[mogurnda]

Aren't there also frozen foods for angels that have sponge in them? Again, not likely to work, but a lot of nudibranchs specialize in sponges.

Those photos may be good enough to get some kind of ID on the Sea Slug Forum, might be worth a try.

[madmaxious]

THanks for tips.

I have send the pictures to the sea slug forum and I am awaiting a reply.

Thanks

[madmaxious]

Hello,

Well I have an ID Click on the link for more info

http://www.seaslugforum.net/triteleg.htm

I will have a go at getting some soft coral type food. I have a huge lfs and im sure they can suggest something.

Thanks for all your posts

[OrionGirl]

Just to make sure you understand--the nudibranch eats the corals, not the same thing as the corals.

[mogurnda]

Wow! It looks like you got a species that you can actually feed! Of course, it may be a bit of a pest if you want to keep soft coral. With every silver lining, there can be a cloud, I suppose.

Edit. Maybe you can rent it out to people who want to prune their overgrowing softies.

[madmaxious]

I understand.

I will probably buy some coral for my little friend to munch on. It just means I may be replacing my coral a little.

Thanks for you help folks

:D

[OrionGirl]

Okay--just wanted to make sure. :)

So...What is a fast growing soft coral coral? You could try xenia--if the slug will eat them, you should be able to easily cultivate enough to keep it well fed.