Nudibranches & community fish

[Keri]

Scroll down and check out pic "E"... I'm sure there is a toxic reason they do not get eaten!!

http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=hypsbull


Thanks for the pic!!

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Yup the color says POISON!!! to anything that is tempted to eat it but I still wouldn't trust a puffer to stay away

The tupperware is a great idea.

[moldrik]

Nudibranches are the most incredible thing in the wild. Specially when you actually spot one because they tend to be so small and hiding in the craziest places. And then you see it beautifully moving around and really get an appreciation for this amazing animal.

I wish I had the balls to start a tank with them. They are so awesome.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Are there many species suited to aquarium life? Any that are easily "IDable" and have easy enough care/food requirements?

[justinl]

unfortunately, I can almost guarantee that that thing will be dead in a short amount of time, regardless of where you put it. Nudibranchs are often very highly specialized predators and many feed on single species of prey. hydroids, cnidarians, sponges and bryozoans for the most part. There are a couple that *could* survive in captivity... a guy on RC had success, but it was a) ugly as sin as far as nudibranchs go, b) required the kind of tank that nudis all need (all intakes covered in sponge or something, very carefully selected cohabitants... which would definitely exclude puffers and mantids) and most importantly of all c) food. The species the guy chose was one that he knew ate a certain species of abundant sponge that he could easily collect from his doorstep by snorkeling. so if you're willing to jump through flaming hoops of TNT and wrestle a bear, you may be the kind of person who is fit to care for a nudibranch long term! long story sort, if it were me, I would just kill it now and keep it from killing your tank.

of course, then there's the always lovable zoo and monti eating aeolids which would be relatively easy (but very expensive) to keep... if you're into that kind of thing.

I agree. fascinating and mostly gorgeous animals, but really should be left where we found them: in the ocean.

[my2rotties]

Thanks for all the info... I never really see them in stores or aquariums for the most part. Then again I am new to the hobby. I watch so many documentaries and just know the colour alone must make them toxic.

My puffer dined on a large hermit crab last night instead... I have to buy crabs and snails in bulk for him, since garlic prawns are not fun to hunt down and eat. He's a bad boy... good thing he's cute all heck.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Man thats going to get expensive. Are you sure you want to keep restocking the crabs?

Make sure you try to find fresh seafoods other than just prawns to feed him. I find they get really picky quickly if you don't feed them a variety of foods and just prawns alone is not the best diet. Its better to mix it up as much as possible.

[my2rotties]

I am heading out today to get some crab legs and mussels, he already has squid and cuttlefish as well. I change it all the time, but he eats whatever he wants when he gets a chance to eat it. I will keep restocking snails since I need them in the tank.

Maybe when he gets more used to being captive perhaps he won't hunt so much. The clowns are still alive and he does not even bother with them for now. He is more then willing to take food from a feeding stick, but it never seems to be quite enough for him. He had one whole squid today and it was just an appetizer it seems. Last night he had half a prawn and half a squid, then of course the hermit crab while I was sleeping. I have no idea of how many snails he has whacked since the tank is so large I cannot keep track of them all.

He will be a good boy for a couple of days and then start hunting again. I think he enjoys the hunting aspect of eating more then being fed. I have the blowers on for him when I feed, so he can chase the food while it blows randomly around the tank. He will not take it from the feeding stick, it must be mobile for him to have interest. He will come up to me with the food, but it must be like prey. If the food touches substate he does ot even have a ten second rule. He does not want it. I have to collect it and sending it flying with a strong blast from the blower.

I saw a captive raised puffer at an LFS, and the little guy was doing tricks for food, and grabbed it from the guys hand. It was a charming little guy that outgrew his tank. That little guy was about half the size of Griff. I have only had him here a week now, so I think he just needs more time to adjust. I know when he sees potential food since he will sit fixated at a rock that has something yummy crawling out of reach. He never gets anything until I go to bed at night of course...

I'm trying to get it right, and your advise is appreciated more then you will ever know. I will make this work out in the long run. I love the guy he's a comic for sure.

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

Man thats going to get expensive. Are you sure you want to keep restocking the crabs?

Make sure you try to find fresh seafoods other than just prawns to feed him. I find they get really picky quickly if you don't feed them a variety of foods and just prawns alone is not the best diet. Its better to mix it up as much as possible.