|
10/16/2010, 10:07 AM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Brighton, MI
Posts: 1,230
|
Pink Sea Slug with Flower-Like Ornamentation
I thought I had already noticed all my surprises and hitchhikers, until this guy (or gal) showed up last night. I apologize for the low quality of the pics, it was in a difficult area to photograph and moved from sight pretty quickly (a pretty speedy slug.)
It's about 2" in length, has 2 large antenna in the front and a "flower-like" protuberance on the top of the rear section of it's body. It's bright pink in color (much brighter than portrayed in the low-light photos) and transparent (you can clearly see it's organs and digestive track.) It appears to be grazing on algae and I haven't seen it display any interest in any livestock. It's actually very beautiful - Anyone have a clue what it is?
__________________
-Tom The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw Current Tank Info: 96X30" 270Gal, Kessil 360WEs, BK250 Double Cone, 400 gal ASW station with continuous water change |
10/16/2010, 02:21 PM | #2 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Fort Worth, TX USA
Posts: 8,267
|
Looks like some kind of nudibranch (the flowery butt is a giveaway!), but in a cursory search I can't find one just like it.
|
10/16/2010, 05:05 PM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 1,924
|
It is very difficult to ID nudis. If it appears to be eating algae the keep it, but watch to make sure it does not cause any trouble.
|
10/17/2010, 07:08 AM | #4 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Posts: 10,598
|
It's a dorid nudibranch of some sort, though not one I immediately recognize. It definitely doesn't eat algae as no nudibranchs are herbivores. Most of the dorids feed on sponges or tunicates. You can rest assured though that this is not a coral predator, so it can stay in the tank.
__________________
Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up |
10/17/2010, 08:47 AM | #5 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Brighton, MI
Posts: 1,230
|
Thank you very much for your assistance.
I noticed it about 6 months ago in my sump, but it was much smaller. I thought it was some type of sponge as it seemed sessile at the time. It's since grown remarkable. I'm pleased to see it doesn't pose a threat to any corals as it's quite beautiful and is a nice addition to the tank. There are plenty of sponges in my tanks, so hopefully it won't starve. I also found a very large ribbon of eggs (1.5" circle with .25" ribbon width.) that I assume came from this Nudi - I've seen never seen a Nudi or egg ribbon this large.
__________________
-Tom The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw Current Tank Info: 96X30" 270Gal, Kessil 360WEs, BK250 Double Cone, 400 gal ASW station with continuous water change Last edited by CalmSeasQuest; 10/17/2010 at 08:54 AM. |
10/17/2010, 06:48 PM | #6 |
Team RC Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Conroe, TX
Posts: 2,761
|
I think it's Hallaxa michaeli, which is known only from southeastern Australia, according to the Sea Slug Forum. It would be interesting to know where it hitched from, if it's that species. See if you agree?
http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/hallmich Cheers, Don |
10/17/2010, 07:16 PM | #7 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Brighton, MI
Posts: 1,230
|
Thanks Don,
That's very close. I didn't notice any white specks and my guy is brighter pink in color, but overall it's very similar. I have quite a few Acans that likely originated from that area - The strange thing is I found him in my sump. It must have been attached to some live rock or rubble. In support of the idea that the coloration is diet based - I do have many pink sponges in my tank. Thanks again for the research.
__________________
-Tom The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw Current Tank Info: 96X30" 270Gal, Kessil 360WEs, BK250 Double Cone, 400 gal ASW station with continuous water change |
Tags |
pink sea slug |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Pink/violet Sea Slug | satt4647 | Other Invertebrates | 4 | 09/27/2009 07:59 PM |
Sea hare or Lettuce Sea slug? | einsteins | Reef Discussion | 5 | 02/09/2009 01:02 AM |
sea hare/sea slug | Mappelbaum37 | Reef Discussion | 2 | 04/28/2008 02:24 PM |
Sea Cucumber or Lettuce Sea Slugs??? | saltman123 | Reef Discussion | 7 | 11/25/2007 11:46 PM |
sea hare vs. lettuce sea slug | king7 | Reef Discussion | 5 | 01/16/2006 04:27 PM |