Lettuce slug behaviour

March 26, 2010
From: Bob Bailey

i bought two lettuce slugs to help keep hair algae under control but all they do is sit in front of a 850 gph koralia circulating power head. i was wondering if this is a sign of coming doom for them or if its a common behavior they have.

Locality: Melbourne, Florida

Bob Bailey

bbailey21@cfl.rr.com

Bailey, R., 2010 (Mar 26) Lettuce slug behaviour. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23401

Dear Bob,

I guess your slugs are Elysia crispata. It is what I have called a Solar-powered Sea Slug because like a plant it can manufacture at least part of it nutrient requirements from sunlight. Plants have special structures called a chloroplasts in their cells which convert sunlight into sugar, and when the slug eats its food plant it keeps these chloroplasts alive and functioning. If you look at the other messages attached to the Elysia crispata Fact Sheet you will find more information on these fascinating animals.

One of these messages [#17626] describe how juveniles stay by aquarium lights for weeks on end, only moving further afield when they mature. I guess they are mimicking their natural behaviour of 'basking' in sunlight so their stolen chloroplasts can photosynthesise.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2010 (Mar 26). Comment on Lettuce slug behaviour by Bob Bailey. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23401

Factsheet

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