My experience with Velvet Nudibranch

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I have had a problem with Flatworms over the past year and a half which
has gotten progressively worse. I considered getting a Velvet
Nudibranch from Aquacon since they are billed as being able to reliably
eat flatworms. I was a bit hesitant since I was concerned that the
Nudibranch may starve if it consumed all the flatworms in the tank, but
the progressively worsening problem convinced me that there would
always be enough flatworms in my 150 gallon reef tank to feed a couple
of the Nudibranchs. Well anyway they arrived today, and I must say
that they are quite stunning. Dark black with bright bright neon blue
stripes on either edge. After taking 4 hours to drip acclimate them,
as instructed in Aquacons instructions, I put them in the tank. They
were immediately very active in their movements. I watched with some
resign as one of the Nudibrachs was grabbed by an emerald crab and
pulled into the rocks before I could intervene. I rushed to grab a
grasper to try and save the Nudibranch, and amazingly it emerged from
the rocks. They must have some type of defensive mechanism (taste
bad?). I was disappointed to see that they appear to avoid touching
mushrooms since most of my flatworms appear to be resting on mushrooms.
Anyway I will report back on my experience with these creatures.

[KevinM]

"RicSeyler" > wrote in message
...
> Velvet NBs?
> Lettuce Nudibranchs are generally sold as flatworm eradicators...
> I haven't heard of the Velvet's.


Ummmm....no. Lettuce Nudis are for hair algae, Velvets (Chelidonura varians)
are for flatworms.

FWIW,
Kev

[Rod]

>
>Velvet NBs?
>Lettuce Nudibranchs are generally sold as flatworm eradicators...
>I haven't heard of the Velvet's.
>

actually the lettuce nudis (T crispata) are herbivores, while th evelvet (C
varians) is a flat worm eater.
They tend to disapear in tanks with pumps.

[Jon]

>They must have some type of defensive mechanism (taste
> bad?).

Well they are one of the most venomous nudibranches known to man. They
secrete a toxin called Hydrozoan Nematocysts.

[KevinM]

"RicSeyler" > wrote in message
. ..
> Arrrgh, your absolutely right, for Bryosis and the like..
> Old Age Neuron missfire..... :-)


No problem...I get those, too. Patron Silver (tequilla) doesn't help either.

Kev

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Well I can state unequivocally that the Nudibranch does indeed eat
flatworms. I have been watching it intently over the past day, and as
I mentioned, I was disappointed that the nudibranch appeared to avoid
touching mushrooms, since most of my flatworms are resting on
mushrooms. Today, it was moving on the aquarium acrylic surface where
I watched come across a flatworm. Upon touching the flatworm, both the
nudibranch and flatworm reacted. The Nudibranch quickly consumed the
flatworm. Another interesting observation was when the nudibranch
floated onto the surfact of my Crocea clam. When the clam reacted by
ejecting a blast of water, the nudibranch appeared to eject what looked
like black ink. I wonder if this also is some type of toxic substance
to discourage predation.

[Richard Periut]

wrote:
> Well I can state unequivocally that the Nudibranch does indeed eat
> flatworms. I have been watching it intently over the past day, and as
> I mentioned, I was disappointed that the nudibranch appeared to avoid
> touching mushrooms, since most of my flatworms are resting on
> mushrooms. Today, it was moving on the aquarium acrylic surface where
> I watched come across a flatworm. Upon touching the flatworm, both the
> nudibranch and flatworm reacted. The Nudibranch quickly consumed the
> flatworm. Another interesting observation was when the nudibranch
> floated onto the surfact of my Crocea clam. When the clam reacted by
> ejecting a blast of water, the nudibranch appeared to eject what looked
> like black ink. I wonder if this also is some type of toxic substance
> to discourage predation.
>

I've never knew that flatworms are pests to a reef tank. In what way?

Also, I have some worms that came with the LR from Tampa Bay. They are
beige colored, with white little feet. It resembles a centipede, but
with the feet on the sides. I don't see any eyes or mouth, but it comes
out of its hole during feeding time. Does this constitute a flat worm pest?

TIA,

Rich



--
"Dum Spiro, Spero."

As long as I breath, I hope.

Cicero (Ancient Rome)

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Flatworms are not harmful but can expand to epidemic numbers and become
unsightly, and cover the surfaces of corals. Currently I have a large
scolymia that is almost completely covered with flatworms.

[JustPhish0911]

>Subject: Re: My experience with Velvet Nudibranch
>From: RicSeyler
>Date: 1/20/2005 5:11 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>Velvet NBs?
>Lettuce Nudibranchs are generally sold as flatworm eradicators...
>I haven't heard of the Velvet's.

Lettuce nudis are sold as bryopsis eradicators. Velvet nudis eat flatworms and
only flatworms.
Thanks,
JP
www.justphish.com

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Final update: Both nudibranchs have vanished. I actually never saw
either one after 3 days, but I thought that they had either gone into
the rocks, or had gotten into the overflow box. Anyway that was weeks
ago, so I guess they either died, or got sucked into the pump.