Hypselodoris bullocki questions

July 2, 2001
From: Drew

Hi, I have a little question, and I wonder if someone could help me. I've got a 4 inch pink Hypselodoris bullocki in my aquarium. Recently, it laid what I think is an yellow/beige egg ribbon on one of the walls, however, it is in a straight line, not in the rosettes I've seen picture of. Is this indeed an egg ribbon?

Also, I've got some run-of-the-mill mushroom coral in my tank, and the nudibranch motored over them once but didn't seem to take notice. Should I be worried? Will this animal consume my mushrooms?

Finally, it always positions itself underneath the water return, and its... gills? or whatever the thing that look like an umbrella growing out of it's back is, gets quite blown around. Is this normal? Does it mean I need more oxygen in my tank? The fish are fine, do nudibranchs have high oxygen requirements?

Drew.

ralphoo@onebox.com

Drew, 2001 (Jul 2) Hypselodoris bullocki questions. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4581

Dear Drew,
If you read some of the other messages about H. bullocki in aquaria you will see that your animal is probably not very healthy. Certainly it normally lays a spiral egg ribbon - and there are a number of photos in previous messages. Often nudibranchs lay their egg ribbons in a straight or irregular way when they are stressed. Its biggest problem is the lack of food. Your coral is quite safe as H. bullocki is a sponge feeder, but unfortunately not any sponge will do. It will only eat one or a few related sponges from its native habitat - and unfortunately we don't know which species of sponge they are. And although your live fish dealer will say they are plant eaters, he is wrong, and sadly he won't have the sponge your animals needs either.

The umbrella shaped things on its back are its gills. I am sure if your fish are happy then there is enough oxygen in the tank for the nudibranch. Some nudibranchs seem to prefer moving water, perhaps its because the sponges they eat need currents to live healthily.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jul 2). Comment on Hypselodoris bullocki questions by Drew. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4581

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