Solid Black Sea Slug

August 16, 2000
From: Timothy Loyd

I am having trouble identifying a nudibranch that was attached to a rock I got for my reef tank. I need to identify it so that I may provide it with a food source if possible. I believe the rock it came in on was of Pacific origin. It is oval in shape, with ribbon-like lobes aroung the edges of it's body. It has a white shell just beneath the parapodial flaps running down the center of it's back. It is solid black, except for the shell and has a single pair of tubular extensions on the top of it's head. Sorry I can not provide a picture. Any information would be appreciated.
Tim

loyd1123@aol.com

Loyd, T., 2000 (Aug 16) Solid Black Sea Slug. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2888

Dear Tim,
Have a look at the photos of Scutus at the top of the page. If you look at earlier messages below yours on this page, you will see others have found this animal in their aquaria.

If you read what I say above, you will see it is not a sea slug but a marine snail which has become slug-like by reducung the size of its shell and covering it with flaps of skin. (See the What is a Slug page for a bit more general information.

Should you keep it in your aquarium and what should you feed it? Although you don't mention it size, I guess it has grown in your aquarium to a visible size so there is clearly food in there for it to eat. It is an algal feeder so I suspect it will be feeding on the algal film which tends to grow in most aquaria. My advice would be to let it grow. It may not be a thing of beauty but it will certainly help keep your tank clean.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Aug 16). Comment on Solid Black Sea Slug by Timothy Loyd. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2888

Factsheet

Elephant Slug, Shield Slug, Ducksbill Limpet (Scutus sp.)

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