anyone have purple slugs?

bang guy

bang guy

Moderator

Originally posted by MaroonClownFan
Bang Guy,
Do you know of any Nudi's that are primarily algae eaters?
i.e. Green Lettuce Nudi? Or other?
I'm not saying that the purple nudi pictured doesn't eat algae. It would just surprise me. FYI - I get suprised about this stuff just about every day. It's been my experience that the blues & purples eat sponges but this is REALLY general and full of exceptions.
The Green Lettuce Nudibranch is actuallt a Sea Slug and they definately eat algae exclusively. There is also a Sea Bunny but I think that is a Slug too. It eats Hair algae.
I'm interested to know about the above Nudi... I'm hoping it eats algae and we know what kind.
 
maroonclownfan

maroonclownfan

Member
One LFS by be has those purple Nudibranches quit often, not too expensive either. If they turn out to be beneficial algae eaters, I might be interested. They are pretty cool looking after all.
Anyone else have personal experience with this type of Nudi?
Bang Guy,
I hope you don't think I was doubting you. I am just looking for a good hair algae remover and wondered if you knew of any Nudis or Sea slugs that were effective. I trust your judgement.
MCF
 
maroonclownfan

maroonclownfan

Member
Maybe I will get one and just try it for myself. I don't have any major coral or ornamental sponges. But I do have some algae. If it eats my hitchhiker sponges off my LR and not the algea, well there will be my answer.
Might be a worth while test.
MCF
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator

Originally posted by MaroonClownFan
But I do have some algae. If it eats my hitchhiker sponges off my LR and not the algea, well there will be my answer.
Might be a worth while test.
If it's a sponge muncher it would be highly unlikely that out of all the different species of sponges it was able to eat yours. Possible, but unlikely. They are usually very specific about which sponge specie they eat. If oyu see it eat you should document it to benefit others.
Another BIG problem with Nudis is that most have neutral density. They neither float nor sink. When they can't find food they release and expect to wander among the currents to a new area rich in whatever it is that they eat. In our tanks they usually follow the currents right into the next powerhead.
 
koiman6

koiman6

Member
Just curious...haw are you planning to remove you damsels. If you have any amount of live rock it is almost impossible to catch them without taking out the rock
 
maroonclownfan

maroonclownfan

Member
Good point Bang Guy...I failed to think that there diet might be highly specialized among types on sponges. Hmmmm...would be nice to know though.
All my PHs have screens on the intakes, I have seen my snails crawl on the screens with no ill effects.
I will have to think about it. Thanks for the questions.
MCF
oh look my 300th post. cool.
 
debbers

debbers

Member
I just picked up a copy of Marine Fish & Reef USA magazine and there is a HUGE article on seaslugs. They go into depth about many beneficial slugs, harmful slugs, predetory slugs, toxic slugs, etc. etc.
If anyone is interested in learning more, there are 12 websites listed in the article for reference, as well as 13 additional references from books and other publications.
Since this site doesn't always like links posted, I will be happy to e-mail the links to anyone interested.
~D~
 
jake22

jake22

Member
I had the sea slug that was in the picture above with a couple sponges and it never touched them. I am skeptical on whether they eat algae becuase before i returned it to my lfs i kept it in a floating breeder and i put some algae in but it did not touch it.
 
fditty

fditty

Member
hey debbers or plum70rt! did you find what those type of sea slugs eat and if they are harmful to a tank?
 
debbers

debbers

Member
FDitty,
I didn't do any reasearch; just thought I'd share. I sent Plum70rt an e-mail with the sites listed, so he/she (? LOL) can take a look.
Sorry, that's not much help! If you're interested in researching, I can forward you the e-mail as well.
~D~
 
plum70rt

plum70rt

Active Member
well as it goes, there is always conflicting info, this is just my opinion, and my experience with these guys in MY tank, yes the book I have say they are toxic if they die or if something tries to eat them, like I said if one dies in a 20 gallon you might have a problem, so far I have not seen them touch a coral or sponge if they eat something off the LR I dont see, Maybe, but all I have seen is them eat Algae, how long they live? 2 were in my sump for a month, happy as can be,3 months so far lets see what happens:)
 
fditty

fditty

Member
i have a 90 and im getting a flame angel saturday and i have a mandarin now. should i be worried about it?
 
plum70rt

plum70rt

Active Member
HOLY SEA SLUGS!!!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek:
ok I read it all, there will be a quiz tommorrow,:confused:
Thank you Debbers for the info:) there is everything you wanted to know about sea slugs and much more, whole sites as big as this one some bigger just on SEA SLUGS!! ok this is what I have found that the purple sea slug that I have does eat sponges and hair algae,and are picky eaters need a varied diet,like dysidea or aplysilla sponges, hydroids and bryozoans, they are tough to keep long term, and are not considered toxic to a tank, Phyllidia Varicosa are very toxic,:) Good luck to all you Slugs;)
 
plum70rt

plum70rt

Active Member
the one I have and the one above are hypselodoris bullocki, the antenna ae called rinophores, and the back end ones are the gills:) good luck to all, when you read through it suggests that you supplement with spongefood for angels by ocean nutrition which i am going to try
 
maroonclownfan

maroonclownfan

Member
Thanks for the info Plum.....
It shed some light on the situation, keep us posted on the success with your slugs. It seems you have raised some interest.
MCF
 
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