Nudibranch...

[Oprah Wrangler]

Hey all,

 

It has been a while since I have been to the forum and need some advice. My little nano is doing well. I recently added a silver dollar sized colony of orange skirt zooanthids. I have questions about feeding, and today I noticed that the pollyps were all opening and closing often. Upon closer inspection I discovered what looks like a nudibranch about 0.5 mm in length. I have only noticed it off of the colony once and it seems to not want to be anywhere but. It looks exactly like the pollyps of the zoanthid, with orange finger like appendeges (sp) extending from multiple areas of its thin slug like body. The zooanthids seem to be very annoyed by this thing and I am wondering if it is trying to eat the coral or stinging it or just wanting to seek cover. Please help.

[dhoch]

I would guess the coral eating kind based on location, but without a pic hard to tell... anway you can capture the bugger and get a pic?

 

Dave

[Prunfarm]

I'm w/ Dave. The coloration makes me think that it uses that as camo for those specific zoas, or that the coloration comes from the zoas themselves. I don't think the nudi is safe, and not to mention that when it finds a powerhead or pump, the blended nudi will release toxins.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Sounds like an aeolid nudibranch. They're species specific predators and pretty prolific multipliers. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rs/index.php

 

Your best best is to quarantine any new corals going into your display tank and inspect daily for predators.