has anyone here successfully kept nudibranchs

marinerules · 02/21/2006, 09:31 PM

espeacially the ones with brighter colors , My petstoer had a awesome bright pink one , with white lining, and a yellow fan looking thing on its back ,

I wanted it , but I hear nudibranchs are very picky eaters

sean48183 · 02/21/2006, 09:49 PM

Love powerhead intakes. I tried 2 lettuce nudi's to combat a hair algae problem I had and they both ended up in the powerhead intakes within a week. I wonder why the do that. Really a bummer since I paid like $15 for each of them.

cerreta · 02/21/2006, 11:57 PM

I have tried on several occasions to raise them. They are hard to keep. I have lost some to starvation, some to sump sucking, and some to "who knows what the hell happened." I wish I could keep them, they are beatiful animals.

marinerules · 02/22/2006, 09:18 AM

yes they are amazing animals

on **************** i think thats the website , they have those really pretty black and bright lbue ones, it says on there that they only eat sponges and you can buy a sponge, i dont know how long one would last

steve the plumb · 02/22/2006, 09:31 AM

I think its the purple ones that eat sponges.Most live off hair algea.I don't know if they eat calerp.If you have a sump thats one way to keep them.I have a sea urchin that I leave in my sump to trim the calerpa he does a great job.I remove him after to let the calerpa grow back then I place him back and let him eat.

Travis L. Stevens · 02/22/2006, 09:38 AM

Most sea slugs, especially dorids, eat sponges. To answer the initial question of "Has anyone here successfully kept nudibranchs ?", yes and it is done often. Is it difficult? Well, it can be. You usually need a specialized tank for it. You also have to be able to feed it its natural diet. You see, most sea slugs are very picky eaters. Most will only eat one thing. Even worse, some will only eat a specific species. Visit seaslugforum.net and look up a few species and their special needs to give you an idea. All in all, your average hobbyist should avoid ALL sea slugs at all costs. Even lettuce nudibranchs, berghia nudibranchs, sea hares, and head shield slugs. The likelihood of you actually able to accomodate it's every need and keep them to a ripe old age is extremely slim. Plus, why would you buy something that will only die on you in a few months when you could have just upped your personal tank husbandry to get rid of a problem (if using a nudibranch as a quick fix) and spent the money on something else much more reliable?

I like to save money if you can't tell.

02/21/2006, 09:31 PM	#1
marinerules Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Paragould Arkansas Posts: 2,219	has anyone here successfully kept nudibranchs espeacially the ones with brighter colors , My petstoer had a awesome bright pink one , with white lining, and a yellow fan looking thing on its back , I wanted it , but I hear nudibranchs are very picky eaters __________________ Looking at purchasing a good SLR camera within the next year, under $1000, any suggestions , email me Current Tank Info: 75 gallon damsels tank , 300 gallon predator fowlr tank

02/21/2006, 11:57 PM	#3
cerreta Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,551	I have tried on several occasions to raise them. They are hard to keep. I have lost some to starvation, some to sump sucking, and some to "who knows what the hell happened." I wish I could keep them, they are beatiful animals. __________________ Cheers, Scott

02/22/2006, 09:18 AM	#4
marinerules Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Paragould Arkansas Posts: 2,219	yes they are amazing animals on **************** i think thats the website , they have those really pretty black and bright lbue ones, it says on there that they only eat sponges and you can buy a sponge, i dont know how long one would last __________________ Looking at purchasing a good SLR camera within the next year, under $1000, any suggestions , email me Current Tank Info: 75 gallon damsels tank , 300 gallon predator fowlr tank

02/22/2006, 09:38 AM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Most sea slugs, especially dorids, eat sponges. To answer the initial question of "Has anyone here successfully kept nudibranchs ?", yes and it is done often. Is it difficult? Well, it can be. You usually need a specialized tank for it. You also have to be able to feed it its natural diet. You see, most sea slugs are very picky eaters. Most will only eat one thing. Even worse, some will only eat a specific species. Visit seaslugforum.net and look up a few species and their special needs to give you an idea. All in all, your average hobbyist should avoid ALL sea slugs at all costs. Even lettuce nudibranchs, berghia nudibranchs, sea hares, and head shield slugs. The likelihood of you actually able to accomodate it's every need and keep them to a ripe old age is extremely slim. Plus, why would you buy something that will only die on you in a few months when you could have just upped your personal tank husbandry to get rid of a problem (if using a nudibranch as a quick fix) and spent the money on something else much more reliable? I like to save money if you can't tell. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

02/21/2006, 09:49 PM	#2
sean48183 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: michigan Posts: 1,577	Love powerhead intakes. I tried 2 lettuce nudi's to combat a hair algae problem I had and they both ended up in the powerhead intakes within a week. I wonder why the do that. Really a bummer since I paid like $15 for each of them.

02/22/2006, 09:31 AM	#5
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	I think its the purple ones that eat sponges.Most live off hair algea.I don't know if they eat calerp.If you have a sump thats one way to keep them.I have a sea urchin that I leave in my sump to trim the calerpa he does a great job.I remove him after to let the calerpa grow back then I place him back and let him eat.