Nudi ID

[dolphinsfan]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/49251nudi3a.JPG

Is this guy reef safe? Sorry for picture quality.

[dolphinsfan]

Also, are these eggs from the nudi or some other type?

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/49251egg2a.JPG

[ReefWerkes]

The first photo looks like a Berghia Nudibranch.

The second looks like "sponges".

[dolphinsfan]

I know the pix are not good but the second looks like inflated tubes. I've never seen white inflated sponges. If it is Berghia, are they coral eaters?

[ReefWerkes]

I believe they are "Scypha sponges".

On this page, http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_pages/faq_rock3.htm, you can go down till you see this:

"All over my tank, sump, and overflows I see what look like grains of white rice. They also seen to have a small tube like extension on one end.
You may have a small species of sponge, probably Leucilla,Leucandra, Scypha = Sycon, or Clathrina. These small sponges are often missed in nature due to their small size, but they are usually seen in our small glass boxes. They are taxonomically found in Class: Calcarea. More information on sponges in general is in Rob's Aquarium.net article http://www.aquarium.net/1196/1196_7.shtml"

[dolphinsfan]

Thanks, I think you are right on the sponge.

The nudi looks more of a peach color then the Berghia photos that i've seen. Also, it looks like the Berghia are "missing" the middle row of their "spine". I think this one had a full row their also.

[rshimek]

Hi,

The first picture is an aeolid nudibranch but it is too out of focus to identify. You might wish to take a look at the images under the heading "Aeolidacea" at this site (http://www.seaslugforum.net).

The second image is of a calcareous skeletoned sponge, probably not Scypha, though. Learn more about sponges here (http://web.archive.org/web/20020804011531/www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1998/jan/wb/default.asp) and here. (http://web.archive.org/web/20020804011531/www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1998/feb/wb/default.asp).

[dolphinsfan]

Does that mean that it is most likely a coral eater? Specifically, do you think it would eat leathers?

[rshimek]

Hi,

Aeolids often are specific predators on cnidarians (soft corals, corals, sea anemones, or hydroids). Without knowing which specific nudibranch species it is, I can't make a guess as to what specifically it would eat. However, aeolids are generally bad news in reef tanks. :D