ID needed

[Van down by the river]

Thanks Ivy (Xtasia),

A better Link for David's book is:
http://www.seachallengers.com/index....=11&itemID=400

or
https://www.oceanaquatics.com/view_p...uct=NUDO5OVM35

Nudibranchs and Sea Snails - Helmut Debelius
http://www.seachallengers.com/index....D=3&itemID=124
This book is one of the most detailed and comprehensive available. There is some info on diet etc. but mostly this is a identification book with details more on behavior and location of habitat.

1001 Nudibranchs - Neville Colemann
http://www.seachallengers.com/index....D=3&itemID=228
Another great ID book.

Although difficult to see the top of the Nudibranch this would be either Chromodoris annae , Chromodoris magnifica or Chromodoris elisabethina.
As it appears from the side I am leaning toward Chromodoris magnifica.
This species is both commonly imported (unfortunately) but also occurs in an area your local store most likely purchases from. The Chromodoris westraliensis occurs in Australia and most likely would not be exported with any frequency.

Now for the pot stirring part of my post.......
I find it disappointing that this was purchased by a senior member (FTOTM Committee) of Canreef.
The post and purchase demonstrate classic beginner blunders of Buy/Try/Die/Replace or "buy now, figure out if I can keep it later". Many aquarist and beginners look to this site for advice and model after the more experienced aquarists.

How are they supposed to become conscious and successful aquarists when this is the examples laid before them?

It is cool. I bought it for 9 bucks as a Nudibranch, they said it eats sponges, which I have lots of. I hope to see it again soon.

When you bought this item you voted with your dollars. You told the store that "It's okay to sell me things that I can't keep and will die".

Most, if not all experienced aquarists consider Nudibranchs as animals that should not be imported, period. This animal will die a slow, starving death in your aquarium.

I don't know about the exact name, but it does look like they eat sponges.
A LFS actually tells the truth!

If a statement is incomplete does it make it all true?
They do eat sponges, however they are most often specific to particular sponges and will not eat all species. If an aquarist was lucky enough to have the correct sponge, it is most likely that the Nudibranch would consume the sponge faster than the sponge could regenerate.

Bottom line is:
You lost$9 and doomed an animal.
The Nudibranch lost it's life.
The store made money.

And the winner is?..........