Lettuce Nudibranch

[Baby Ray]

I have a 29 gallon mixed reef with some anemones as well and just a clownfish (the only other fish I want to add are peaceful and reef safe)
Would a lettuce nudibranch be a good addition? I know they can be very difficult to keep alive. Are there any comercial foods that they will eat like Nori?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hi Ray!

We just so happen to have an expert. Maybe we can get some tips.

@PaulB

A really good article.

 

[keddre]

I say roll the dice. If you have access to it (like at a pet store or friends tank), then I would try a couple different things. If the lfs is nice, I would take some nori, caulerpa, red seaweed, etc. to the store with you to see what it eats.

While I don't have a lettuce slug, when I got my wedge sea slug, he only ate green hair algae. It took a while, but I found that he also likes dying caulerpa and red seaweed. So just try a variety of foods until you find one it'll eat.

 

[Baby Ray]

I say roll the dice. If you have access to it (like at a pet store or friends tank), then I would try a couple different things. If the lfs is nice, I would take some nori, caulerpa, red seaweed, etc. to the store with you to see what it eats.

While I don't have a lettuce slug, when I got my wedge sea slug, he only ate green hair algae. It took a while, but I found that he also likes dying caulerpa and red seaweed. So just try a variety of foods until you find one it'll eat.

Thank you!!

 

[keddre]

Thank you!!

That's only my opinion; if this is your first slug, I recommend you observing it feeding on person

 

[Dancingmad]

I've been google scholaring these for some time now (links shared below). Many report Bryopsis when they're juveniles, and they become more accepting as adults (maybe?). I think the AA article described the slug methodical om noming method to save chloroplasts and move them up to their leafy parts for bonus energy via photosynthesis. I'm highly skeptical of any dead algae waffer/sheet/whatever doing that service, though I have come across reports of success with dry store bought foods...still skeptical... Just have a hard time grasping the slugs bringing dead algae back to life and putting it to use.

In addition to diet you're probably going to want to guard baffles, overflows and powerheads to avoid some blending and/or sump rides. Recommend hitting the clownfish / anemone boards or searching for anemone guards. No one likes a blended nem, so there will be some useful suggestions on how you could protect your slug.

**Disclaimer - I am no expert. Never owned one or ever claimed to have success, just sharing some links n' opinions. Probably included some ranting too :)


http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/10/inverts
http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/elyscris
http://seaslugforum.net/find/11846

 

[Baby Ray]

I've been google scholaring these for some time now (links shared below). Many report Bryopsis when they're juveniles, and they become more accepting as adults (maybe?). I think the AA article described the slug methodical om noming method to save chloroplasts and move them up to their leafy parts for bonus energy via photosynthesis. I'm highly skeptical of any dead algae waffer/sheet/whatever doing that service, though I have come across reports of success with dry store bought foods...still skeptical... Just have a hard time grasping the slugs bringing dead algae back to life and putting it to use.

In addition to diet you're probably going to want to guard baffles, overflows and powerheads to avoid some blending and/or sump rides. Recommend hitting the clownfish / anemone boards or searching for anemone guards. No one likes a blended nem, so there will be some useful suggestions on how you could protect your slug.

**Disclaimer - I am no expert. Never owned one or ever claimed to have success, just sharing some links n' opinions. Probably included some ranting too :)


http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/10/inverts
http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/elyscris
http://seaslugforum.net/find/11846

Thank you! This is very helpful