unidentified creature

[Owen]

We let my son set up a saltwater aquarium. We added a rock with star polyps on it about a week ago. We noticed on the bottom side was a small anemone. Looks just like an anemone when it doesn't move. But once we saw it move we know it's not. Does anyone know what this is?

 

[pickupman66]

some type of nudibranch...

 

[Mike&Terry]

Pest nudibranch. You will want to remove it, dip your star polyps and remove any eggs.

The Sea Slug Forum - Phyllodesmium briareum

 

[Owen]

Thanks for the help. We identified the creature. It is a type of nudibranch. It's a Phyllodesmium briareum. It eats soft coral. Once we found what it was we couldn't find it. Once the lights went out and the moon lights came on it came out. We were able to catch it. Thanks again.

 

[Squishie89]

Hey I was just at Harpers Ferry on Friday, went to RiverRiders!

But unfortunately most nudibranchs that hitchhike into tanks are not good. Nudi's are speacilized feeders so they usually only eat one type of thing, like sponges or zoanthids or soft coral.

 

[snafte]

Flabellina family, and can be quite detrimental to zoa, sponges and anemones, remove ASAP!!