Help ID Live Rock Hitchhiker

[gsbrawley65]

I would appreciate anyone helping ID this hitchhiker. My tank is currently unstocked and about 3 weeks old with live rock.

 

[rayadog]

Dog that’s a flatworm and I would remove him. And ID outside of the tank, and then maybe let die… hard to see under blues but I would not trust any flatworm that size … if you’re going to add coral; which I assume since it’s heavy blues.

It doesn’t quite look like the fear striking common name “leopard flatworm” but your eyes would be better to compare than what I can make out under those blues. I would ask for white light pic but it might just spook them quicker.

I don’t want to be the one to call the expert guy cause he sounds so busy with all the ID requests… also it’s a shame to be the guy that says burn it with fire but I’m okay with that in this case. I would at least capture it and go from there.

 

[gsbrawley65]

Two additional pics. He’s disappeared again. So, I’ll have to try and catch him next time and get a white light pic.

 

[rayadog]

Two additional pics. He’s disappeared again. So, I’ll have to try and catch him next time and get a white light pic.

It doesn’t look like a leopard flatworm. See it never pays to be hasty. It definitely has true rhinophores and gills on it’s rear (couldn’t see those before) so that would make it some sort of nudibranch sea slug. Sorry for my first alarmist post; never trust the internet . Oh I could still edit it… but I shouldn’t

Where is your rock from?

@ISpeakForTheSeas would have a better idea than me, but be patient.

 

[tbrown]

That's a Sea Slug, not a flatworm. Google says it's likely a Sea Hare but I'm not certain. If so, it's a good guy if your tank can support it as they eat algae.

 

[rayadog]

That's a Sea Slug, not a flatworm. Google says it's likely a Sea Hare but I'm not certain. If so, it's a good guy if your tank can support it as they eat algae.

D’oh! I should turned the Squad signal on

 

[tbrown]

D’oh! I should turned the Squad signal on

You're good. I think you got it in the end anyway.

 

[gsbrawley65]

Thanks, everyone. Given the new nature of my tank, I'm not sure I can keep him alive. Going to try some nori seaweed.

 

[EnterName]

If you manage to get a picture under white/neutral light we might be able to identify the genus or even species and then can work out what it needs to eat. The diet of sea slugs can sometimes be very specific.

 

[gsbrawley65]

If you manage to get a picture under white/neutral light we might be able to identify the genus or even species and then can work out what it needs to eat. The diet of sea slugs can sometimes be very specific.

 

[tbrown]

The tuft on the rump makes me lean more towards Sea Hare which is a decent one - but not for newer aquariums. However, Google thinks it might be a Discodorididae that eats sponges. That would make it difficult to keep healthy long term. These can also release toxins if they die or get spooked. Might be wise to remove.

 

[tbrown]

Yeah, further research has me believing Google. Potentially a Discodorididae - one of the Thordisa most likely.

 

[rayadog]

It’s red! That looks so cool though. Is it very active?

 

[BloopFish]

Not sure why everyone is guessing completely wrong things. Maybe don't suggest IDs from an AI or when you have no idea. Its clearly a nudibranch based on the gills on the back that looks like a tuft. Clearly not a flatworm or a seahare.

Probably something in the Discodorididae family. Specifically look at Platydoris. Good example of a look-alike is Platydoris angustipes, which would be a good match if your live rock was from the Atlantic.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

Yeah, I'd say a Discodorid nudibranch; Platydoris is a solid guess.

I can't see the texture/spotting of the nudibranch well enough to say for certain, but Platydoris (specifically ones like P. angustipes, P. sanguinea, and P. argo), Geitodoris, Avaldesia, and - if "lumpy" - Asteronotus (for examples) all have species that can superficially resemble this. I haven't looked into keying out the genera in the family yet, but I know for ID'ing species in the genera, you end up looking at the rhinophores (the "horns" or "antennae") and sheathes, the branchiae (gills) and sheathes, the radulae (basically the teeth/tongue), etc. to differentiate (so very clear, close up pics enabling you to do things like count the lamellae on the rhinophores are key).

Almost certainly a sponge-eater, and basically guaranteed to starve in most tanks (unfortunately).

 

[buick48]

I would appreciate anyone helping ID this hitchhiker. My tank is currently unstocked and about 3 weeks old with live rock.

Looks like a nudibranche, just not sure what type but from those pics it's hard to tell. Good luck

 

[gsbrawley65]

Thanks, everyone. Its still alive. I'm currently trying to find a way to re-home it.