Goniopora Eating Nudis

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

Well we came across this at a friends house. We instantly noticed something was wrong with her red goni and found this beautiful little monster! Amanda took the pictures for me to post on here. The nudi had damaged tips on its body from a quick dip to get it off the coral, which we should have not done since we were taking pics.

The damage was very minamal and we didnt have time to search for eggs so we will keep you guys updated on what happens as we get time to visit the tank.

 

An article on these species.

http:/www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/6/inverts

 

Here are a few pics my girl took for everyone to look at and learn from.

 

 

 

[zygote2k]

beautiful little beastie.

I'd set up a goniopora tank just to raise the nudis.

[surf&turf]

Cool pic's Paul, Amanda has skills!!

[ezeke1]

Any idea where it came from? Hitchhiker perhaps?

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

beautiful little beastie.

I'd set up a goniopora tank just to raise the nudis.

 

 

Yea they are awesome looking, unfortunatly they are able to eat a massive amount of coral a day. This one was a good half inch long.

Cool pic's Paul, Amanda has skills!!

 

 

Hey thanks man! Yea she is getting better by the day, and now she finally has time to work on the things she went to collage to do! Like taking pictures and graphics design.

 

 

Any idea where it came from? Hitchhiker perhaps?

These nudis came from a goni sold at a local fish store.

[gmerek2]

Was it hard to spot

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

Aparently it was hard to spot for the guy who is paid to service the tank but amanda saw them first thing. Once skeleton shows its obvious something is wrong. But they get pretty big so its easier to see the large ones because they are much bigger thsn a goni polyp.

[mogurnda]

beautiful little beastie.

I'd set up a goniopora tank just to raise the nudis.

What he said.

 

Too bad there aren't pretty slugs that eat weeds like mushrooms or Anthelia.  I'd set up a tank (or two, if necessary) to provide food for the guys.  Goniopora is a bit too much money and effort.

[davelin315]

Nudibranchs are pretty incredible in how they adapt - if they're not flamboyant and bright to advertise their toxicity they have a tendency to blend into whatever they feed on.  I would bet that if you kept that one for about a week without feeding it anything it would change to a clear or white color due to loss of pigmentation from not eating, similar to how berghia nudibranchs take on the coloration of aiptasia when they eat.

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

Yes they change color from what they eat, as do the ones that eat suncorals, porites, and other types of different corals. Thats why this one was red. I wonder what color the ones that jump to the other goni in her tank will change too. Its a green white and blue goni, man that would be a pretty nudi! Unfortunatly the dip realy mangled its long tenticle skirt thingy :( i will update if there are any.