Hitchhiker ID

CalmSeasQuest · 02/06/2010, 09:05 AM

Can anyone ID This? It's about the size of a typical Amphipod but no shell. It's body and legs were soft. I've removed 2 from the glass so far, which probably means there are hundreds.

(Fingers crossed hoping that they are harmless)

Thanks!

Ohiomom · 02/06/2010, 09:07 AM

It's a nudibranch but other than that I have no idea if it is good or bad..hth

Chiefsurfer · 02/06/2010, 09:10 AM

^+1. Nudi, if you want more check out www.nudipixel.net. It is a pictoral Nudibranch ID. It is my understanding that there are like 300 bad nudis, and like 5 good ones. GL tho, hope its one of the 5.

CalmSeasQuest · 02/06/2010, 09:22 AM

Thank You Sandra and Chief - I found the source.

They came from this Zoa frag *just* received (thankfully.)

Both examples were found on the glass about an inch from the frag. Along with the 2 more Nudis, you can see what appears to be a clear egg sack - very scary.

I'm contacting the online retailer and have removed the offending frag - Hopefully before any more have made it into my tank.

Thanks again!

robs.mark · 02/06/2010, 06:17 PM

hope so as there probably zoa eating nudi's if they nested in a colony..

Octoshark · 02/06/2010, 06:29 PM

Yep, those are nudis

Octoshark · 02/06/2010, 06:34 PM

Appears to be a species of Aeolid:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0...ture/index.php

CalmSeasQuest · 02/06/2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octoshark

Appears to be a species of Aeolid:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0...ture/index.php

Pretty sure these are members of the bad guys - Although they appear similar, I don't think they are Berghia. The. coloring is different, the legs are paired differently and the eggs were in a clear sack instead of the spirals laid by Berghia - Most telling, they were munching on a Zoa frag.

I'm thankful I noticed them early and removed them. The ironic thing is I saw them when I placed the frag in the rack - but they appeared to be part of the skirt of a zoa just starting to open - very good camouflage.

Thanks everyone for the responses! This has convinced me to develop a thorough dip/QT program.

LeslieH · 02/07/2010, 11:07 AM

There are thousands of nudi species. Whether one is good or bad is entirely subjective. To a true nudi lover all of them are good and corals are just food. To a coral lover an zoa-munching nudi is the devil himself. LOL

Tom's animal is definitely a zoa predator. The eggs he photographed tho' belong to some kind of snail. The nudi's own eggs would be in a spiral or at least an egg ribbon instead of clear capsules. Good defense on getting it out so quickly Tom!

CalmSeasQuest · 02/07/2010, 11:17 AM

Thanks Leslie - And you were spot-on. Regarding the eggs, when I removed the Zoa frag and used a 6X magnifying glass, I found 4 more groups of eggs. More or less clear ribbon like lines. The eggs I initially photographed were much different than these.

My apologies to Nudi lovers, but these guys are toast. I don't think the Zoa frag will make it though, looks like they had been dining there for a while.

02/06/2010, 09:05 AM	#1
CalmSeasQuest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 1,230	Hitchhiker ID Can anyone ID This? It's about the size of a typical Amphipod but no shell. It's body and legs were soft. I've removed 2 from the glass so far, which probably means there are hundreds. (Fingers crossed hoping that they are harmless) Thanks! __________________ -Tom The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw Current Tank Info: 96X30" 270Gal, Kessil 360WEs, BK250 Double Cone, 400 gal ASW station with continuous water change

02/06/2010, 09:07 AM	#2
Ohiomom Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,586	It's a nudibranch but other than that I have no idea if it is good or bad..hth __________________ .....Sandra “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” Current Tank Info: 75 galllon reef, T5HO love em!

02/06/2010, 09:10 AM	#3
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	^+1. Nudi, if you want more check out www.nudipixel.net. It is a pictoral Nudibranch ID. It is my understanding that there are like 300 bad nudis, and like 5 good ones. GL tho, hope its one of the 5. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

02/06/2010, 09:22 AM	#4
CalmSeasQuest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 1,230	Thank You Sandra and Chief - I found the source. They came from this Zoa frag just received (thankfully.) Both examples were found on the glass about an inch from the frag. Along with the 2 more Nudis, you can see what appears to be a clear egg sack - very scary. I'm contacting the online retailer and have removed the offending frag - Hopefully before any more have made it into my tank. Thanks again! __________________ -Tom The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw Current Tank Info: 96X30" 270Gal, Kessil 360WEs, BK250 Double Cone, 400 gal ASW station with continuous water change Last edited by CalmSeasQuest; 02/06/2010 at 09:28 AM. Reason: Added pics

02/06/2010, 06:17 PM	#5
robs.mark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 1,461	hope so as there probably zoa eating nudi's if they nested in a colony.. __________________ knowledge is power! Current Tank Info: Lagoon

02/06/2010, 06:29 PM	#6
Octoshark Marine Biology Student Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,366	Yep, those are nudis __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

02/06/2010, 06:34 PM	#7
Octoshark Marine Biology Student Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,366	Appears to be a species of Aeolid: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0...ture/index.php __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

02/07/2010, 11:07 AM	#9
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	There are thousands of nudi species. Whether one is good or bad is entirely subjective. To a true nudi lover all of them are good and corals are just food. To a coral lover an zoa-munching nudi is the devil himself. LOL Tom's animal is definitely a zoa predator. The eggs he photographed tho' belong to some kind of snail. The nudi's own eggs would be in a spiral or at least an egg ribbon instead of clear capsules. Good defense on getting it out so quickly Tom! __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

02/07/2010, 11:17 AM	#10
CalmSeasQuest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 1,230	Thanks Leslie - And you were spot-on. Regarding the eggs, when I removed the Zoa frag and used a 6X magnifying glass, I found 4 more groups of eggs. More or less clear ribbon like lines. The eggs I initially photographed were much different than these. My apologies to Nudi lovers, but these guys are toast. I don't think the Zoa frag will make it though, looks like they had been dining there for a while. __________________ -Tom The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw Current Tank Info: 96X30" 270Gal, Kessil 360WEs, BK250 Double Cone, 400 gal ASW station with continuous water change