Greek goddess sea slug

July 19, 2000
From: Holly

I have recently purchased a hypselodoris endentica (Greek Goddess sea slug) and would like to know what it eats, if the pink slime string is eggs, or something else,and will it harm my reef tank(100 gal.), or hurt my fish, clowns, damsels. I have searched high and low on this pc, and if you don't know, could you please tell me what site could.
Thank-you.
Holly

officer@digitalusa.net

Holly, 2000 (Jul 19) Greek goddess sea slug. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2726

Dear Holly,
It is really the wrong way around to buy a nudibranch and then check on how to keep it alive. More importantly, why are aquarium shops selling them and tricking customers into thinking they are herbivores, or easy to keep alive?

I am afraid Holly that your slug feeds on a few very particular species of sponge, which are themselves difficult to keep in aquaria, even in the unlikely event, that you could obtain some.

The 'pink slime' you mention is possibly their egg string. Have a look at the egg ribbon of a related sea slug Hypselodoris zebra.

The name you have for your sea slug, - hypselodoris endentica - has got a bit missing, it should be Hypselodoris endenticula, a species which is now considered part of a complex occurring on both sides of the tropical Atlantic and down to Brasil. The name we use for this species is Hypselodoris picta. Have a look at the pictures on that page to see some of the variety amongst Mediterranean examples. Also have a look at the page on Hypselodoris picta lajensis, a beautiful form from Brazil. I suspect your animal is quite similar, but from my reading, in your Caribbean form the yellow lines are broken into spots and there are yellow markings along the edge of the gills.

If you are able to photograph your sea slug it would be good to be able to add it to the variations we have on the website. It would also give your slug a chance of immortality - or at least a longer 'life' than it will have in captivity. Have a look at some of the other messages about keeping slugs in aquaria.

Will it hurt your fish? The short answer is no, although they may get a nasty taste in their mouth if they try and eat it. I don't know where you live, so I can't give you much idea on whether there is any point in trying to find a local sponge that your Hypselodoris will eat. On balance I guess there is nothing much you can do but keep it in your tank. It could last a couple of months without feeding. The alternatives, such as giving it back, throwing it in the sea etc, are probably not going to help the slug, so at least if you keep it you will be able to educate your friends about the dangers of buying unknown animals from aquarium shops.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Jul 19). Comment on Greek goddess sea slug by Holly. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2726

Factsheet

Hypselodoris picta

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