Elysia crispata and Green Carpet Anemones

May 21, 2002
From: Andy Feifarek

I recently purchased 3 Elysia crispata to assist in the combat of my lovely bryopsis algae problem. I didn't quite take into account my rather large green carpet anemone and was wondering if it may have the desire to zap a nearby Elysia crispata and decide that is would make a nifty little snack. The primary reason that I am concerned about this is that within two days of putting them into the tank, one of them (the larger one) disappeared and I have only been able to find two of them at any given time since I lost the third one.

I doubt that any of the other inhabitants are posing a problem (2 clarki clowns, 1 sailfin tang, 1 flame angel, 1 algae blenny, a dozen or so hermies, 2 cleaner shrimp, and 1 peppermint shrimp). That leaves the anenemoe to be the possible culprit. I did look in my sump and pumps just in case, and have found no sign of him anywhere. Last time I saw him (or all three for that matter) he was within inches of the anemone.

Thanks for any info you may be able to provide.

worldwithin@bigfoot.com

Feifarek, A., 2002 (May 21) Elysia crispata and Green Carpet Anemones. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7011

Dear Andy,
I'm afraid large anemones are always a bit of a problem. I doubt if slugs will actually crawl into them but sometimes slugs do strange things like drift in the water then drop ... , or lower themselves by mucous thread straight on to an anemone. I remember once losing a new species to a large anemone - which regurgitated it a few days later so at least I was able to look at its radular teeth.

Can't really give any advice. Large anemones are good if you want to keep their commensal fish and shrimps happy - but they are a bit of a trap for other life.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (May 21). Comment on Elysia crispata and Green Carpet Anemones by Andy Feifarek. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7011

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