Blue Velvet Nudibranch

webdizzy · 09/30/2019, 03:14 PM

I recently purchased a blue velvet nudibranch to deal with a flatworm problem. He was fine for a couple of days -- I could see him eating flatworms off the glass (if he could get them before the FW released into the water column), but I haven't seen him in a couple of days. Do they have any predators that could be in a home reef? Like an emerald crab, or fire shrimp? Just wondering if something ate it, but I think those are the only 2 things that I have that I would suspect.

Thanks!

Sugar Magnolia · 09/30/2019, 07:07 PM

They typically die quickly from starvation.

webdizzy · 09/30/2019, 07:17 PM

There’s no way it could have died of starvation that quickly when there are lots of flatworms.

Tyrenlds · 10/02/2019, 01:43 PM

Attempted to use them twice for flatworm control and both got minced in the power head over night. They got swept away in flow very easily. Might look around for minced pieces around your tank.

webdizzy · 10/02/2019, 04:55 PM

Yikes and Ew! I haven’t seen anything so far, but I did notice there’s not much to it to anchor it down — seems like it could easily float away and I did find it floating close to a rock one time so I nudged it onto the sand.

Big E · 10/03/2019, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrenlds

Attempted to use them twice for flatworm control and both got minced in the power head over night. They got swept away in flow very easily. Might look around for minced pieces around your tank.

Yep, they can get easily get blown around. I bought a few years ago.....they do eat a lot of flatworms but the problem is you have to have very mild flow or they end up swept in the overflow.minced up, or stuck to a power head.

You would think they would stay put on the rock where all the flatworms are but for some reason they decide to go for rides in the currents.

You may want to try to get a choris wrasse. I'm not sure which species eats them the best.......maybe the yellow choris?

webdizzy · 02/03/2020, 08:47 PM

Just came across this thread I started and thought I’d provide a follow. I ended up getting a sapphire damsel and he got rid of the flatworms within days. He’s a model citizen and gets along fine with my other fish — flame angel, six line wrasse, Midas gold blend and Bartlett’s anthias — so he has worked out well.

Big E · 02/04/2020, 04:38 PM

Good info, Cheryl

09/30/2019, 03:14 PM	#1
webdizzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Willoughby, Ohio Posts: 897	Blue Velvet Nudibranch I recently purchased a blue velvet nudibranch to deal with a flatworm problem. He was fine for a couple of days -- I could see him eating flatworms off the glass (if he could get them before the FW released into the water column), but I haven't seen him in a couple of days. Do they have any predators that could be in a home reef? Like an emerald crab, or fire shrimp? Just wondering if something ate it, but I think those are the only 2 things that I have that I would suspect. Thanks! __________________ Cheryl Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo Fusion 40, Mixed Reef -- going with the "KISS" theory this time. :)

09/30/2019, 07:07 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	They typically die quickly from starvation. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/30/2019, 07:17 PM	#3
webdizzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Willoughby, Ohio Posts: 897	There’s no way it could have died of starvation that quickly when there are lots of flatworms. __________________ Cheryl Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo Fusion 40, Mixed Reef -- going with the "KISS" theory this time. :)

10/02/2019, 04:55 PM	#5
webdizzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Willoughby, Ohio Posts: 897	Yikes and Ew! I haven’t seen anything so far, but I did notice there’s not much to it to anchor it down — seems like it could easily float away and I did find it floating close to a rock one time so I nudged it onto the sand. __________________ Cheryl Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo Fusion 40, Mixed Reef -- going with the "KISS" theory this time. :)

02/03/2020, 08:47 PM	#7
webdizzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Willoughby, Ohio Posts: 897	Just came across this thread I started and thought I’d provide a follow. I ended up getting a sapphire damsel and he got rid of the flatworms within days. He’s a model citizen and gets along fine with my other fish — flame angel, six line wrasse, Midas gold blend and Bartlett’s anthias — so he has worked out well. __________________ Cheryl Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo Fusion 40, Mixed Reef -- going with the "KISS" theory this time. :) Last edited by webdizzy; 02/04/2020 at 04:55 PM.

10/02/2019, 01:43 PM	#4
Tyrenlds Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: CA Posts: 332	Attempted to use them twice for flatworm control and both got minced in the power head over night. They got swept away in flow very easily. Might look around for minced pieces around your tank.

02/04/2020, 04:38 PM	#8
Big E Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: South Euclid, OH Posts: 4,281	Good info, Cheryl __________________ 80g Rimless Acropora System reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2197142&page=31 Ed