MACNA XIII, & Critter ID

[carolina98]

Dr. Shimek,

First I'd like to say how very much I enjoyed your workshops at MACNA XIII! Thanks for all of the extremely useful information, and research that you shared with us. I also favor the one on one formats of your talks. I know that the "workshop" forum was a huge success, and hope that many more speakers follow your lead in the future. Bravo!

Now that we have online access, I will again ask for your help with any information you might have concerning the ID of this "critter." Does he eat corals? Our club member who discovered him in his tank (along with 5 or 6 others just like him) soon found some of his corals with missing polyps.

If you need more photos for ID, they can be found at MASC - Sheila & Tracy Young (http://www.carolinareef.com/tracyandsheila.htm)

Thanks again. Look forward to seeing you in Dallas!

ConnieH
www.masna.org

http://www.carolinareef.com/youngsuco.jpg

[rshimek]

Originally posted by carolina98

Hi Connie,

I also favor the one on one formats of your talks. I know that the "workshop" forum was a huge success, and hope that many more speakers follow your lead in the future.

I do like the format, providing I have sand with critters in it.... :D


Now that we have online access, I will again ask for your help with any information you might have concerning the ID of this "critter." Does he eat corals?

The animal is a dendronotacean nudibranch, probably in the genus Tritoniopsis.

They are soft coral eating animals. Here is a link with a some photos of some other similar animals.

http://www.rshimek.com/rogue's_gallery.htm#Soft%20Coral%20Eating%20Nudibranchs

Look forward to seeing you in Dallas!

Likewise - Dallas will be a great meeting!

:D

[carolina98]

Thanks for the info and the link, Dr. Ron. I'm sure the Young's will be glad to know that they did the right thing by banishing the dendronotacean nudi's to quarantine pending positive ID. Much appreciated!

On the workshop... I thought it was just too cool that a question arose about brittlestars, just before we all saw a brittlestar scurry across the video screen! Talk about your good timing... BUT, what I want to know is how on earth did you train that little guy to appear right on cue? :D

[rshimek]

Originally posted by carolina98

On the workshop... I thought it was just too cool that a question arose about brittlestars, just before we all saw a brittlestar scurry across the video screen! Talk about your good timing... BUT, what I want to know is how on earth did you train that little guy to appear right on cue? :D

You know, Connie, I have been giving demonstrations in classes and such for 30 years. Often they don't work. During that talk, at that instant, the cosmic forces smiled on me..... it was sheer, unadulterated, luck.

:D