Pop Up Nusibranch

[hoffmeyerz]

I've never added a nudibranch to the tank. About a week or so ago I noticed something on the rocks that I didn't recognize. As I took a closer look I realized it was a nudibranch. I have no idea how it got there. I've added some coral to the tank over the last few months but all were dipped and I didn't notice anything on them. Could they have hitchhiked on the coral and do I need to add anything to the tank for them for food? There is no aptasia in the tank.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Would need a better pic to tell, but maybe a montipora-eating nudibranch or a berghia, hard to tell from this pic.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Would need a better pic to tell, but maybe a montipora-eating nudibranch or a berghia, hard to tell from this pic.

Best I've got at the moment...

 

[Fish Fan]

There's Nudi's that eat corals that we find desirable. I'd look to get a positive ID on this guy, it may not be a helpful, Apatasia eating variety.

Maybe @ISpeakForTheSeas can take a look for you.

Good luck!

 

[BonnieB]

Get an id to see if good or bad kind but you probably had eggs on the frags which would not have come off in the dip. @vetteguy53081 ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Best I've got at the moment...

Looks like a monti eating version or similar
I would discard especially if you didn’t place it in tank

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Was able to get one out while I was cleaning the tank today. Here's a better pic if anyone might be able to ID what nudibranch this might be.
@BristleWormHater
@ISpeakForTheSeas
@vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

Was able to get one out while I was cleaning the tank today. Here's a better pic if anyone might be able to ID what nudibranch this might be.
@BristleWormHater
@ISpeakForTheSeas
@vetteguy53081

Thank you for better pics. This is not a montipora but rather coral eater nudibranch, likely from genus phestilla and should be discarded as you will notice appendage under the antennae it uses to scrape slime and tissue off coral. Very good pic provided

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Was able to get one out while I was cleaning the tank today. Here's a better pic if anyone might be able to ID what nudibranch this might be.
@BristleWormHater
@ISpeakForTheSeas
@vetteguy53081

Thank you for better pics. This is not a montipora but rather coral eater nudibranch, likely from genus phestilla and should be discarded as you will notice appendage under the antennae it uses to scrape slime and tissue off coral. Very good pic provided

Thanks! I have noticed that a lot of my zoas have been going downhill lately and my octospawn hasn't been mostly staying closed up. Wondering if these little guys have been the culprit!
Now I just need to find the other two :(

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks! I have noticed that a lot of my zoas have been going downhill lately and my octospawn hasn't been mostly staying closed up. Wondering if these little guys have been the culprit!
Now I just need to find the other two :(

Likely, they have caused havoc

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thanks! I have noticed that a lot of my zoas have been going downhill lately and my octospawn hasn't been mostly staying closed up. Wondering if these little guys have been the culprit!
Now I just need to find the other two :(

Was able to get one out while I was cleaning the tank today. Here's a better pic if anyone might be able to ID what nudibranch this might be.
@BristleWormHater
@ISpeakForTheSeas
@vetteguy53081

Zoanthid-eating Nudibranch, either Baeolidia palythoae or B. harrietae (differentiated by the number of cerata* - the little sacs on the nudibranch's back that have stingers, cnidosacs, on top where they concentrate the venom from the corals they eat for defense - in each row on the critter).

*Source:
https://treatment.plazi.org/GgServer/html/ED36FA51A02DFF93FF1BFC1EE05FF9D0
Edit: For comparison, see the pictures of the specimen in the second message in the link below (the link uses a currently unaccepted taxonomic name, but it's the same critter as B. harrietae):
https://www.seaslugforum.net/showall/aeolharrEdit 2: And one for B. palythoae:
http://seaslugs.free.fr/nudibranche/a_baeolidia_palythoae.htm

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Thanks! I have noticed that a lot of my zoas have been going downhill lately and my octospawn hasn't been mostly staying closed up. Wondering if these little guys have been the culprit!
Now I just need to find the other two :(

Was able to get one out while I was cleaning the tank today. Here's a better pic if anyone might be able to ID what nudibranch this might be.
@BristleWormHater
@ISpeakForTheSeas
@vetteguy53081

Zoanthid-eating Nudibranch, either Baeolidia palythoae or B. harrietae (differentiated by the number of cerata* - the little sacs on the nudibranch's back that have stingers, cnidosacs, on top where they concentrate the venom from the corals they eat for defense - in each row on the critter).

*Source:
https://treatment.plazi.org/GgServer/html/ED36FA51A02DFF93FF1BFC1EE05FF9D0
Edit: For comparison, see the pictures of the specimen in the second message in the link below (the link uses a currently unaccepted taxonomic name, but it's the same critter as B. harrietae):
https://www.seaslugforum.net/showall/aeolharrEdit 2: And one for B. palythoae:
http://seaslugs.free.fr/nudibranche/a_baeolidia_palythoae.htm

Thank you so much for the detailed info! Guess that's why my zoas were really taking a hit :(