Egg masses in my aquarium

January 24, 2003
From: Tana Landau

Hi..
I have two sea slugs in my tank. One is a Hypselodoris bullocki and the other I'm unsure of .. may be a Chromodoris magnifica. I just recently obtained these two slugs. One of them laid an egg mass overnight. However I do not know which one. Can you tell me anything about the species imparticular as far as egg masses and characteristics. I know the general info as far as hermaphroditism and veliger larva etc.... I also know some are direct developers while others are not. What would the larvae feed on also. I have a sponge in my tank for them ...thanks for your help.
Tana

Landau, T., 2003 (Jan 24) Egg masses in my aquarium. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8999

Dear Tana,
Firstly, with a little luck I can identify quite a few things from very little information, but I can't work miracles. I can't even guess at your egg mass without a photo or a drawing, or even a few words of description. Its a bit like saying "I have bought a colourful fish - what shall I feed it?" Basically, if you want any sensible information or advice, you have to give me some real clues.

If you have a look at the messages on the H. bullocki page [and pages 2,3] you will see a number of photos of its egg ribbon. If your second species is C. magnifica, then go to the page which describes the flat egg ribbon found in some chromdorid species, including C. magnifica. If your second animal is that species, then you should be able to identify who producd the egg ribbon, as C. magnifica's ribbon is flat.

Now to your other points. Have a look at the List of General Topics for places where I discuss aspects of larval life, and the chance of them surviving in home aquaria. It is not high. Also there is no guarantee the eggs in this ribbon are fertile. Often sick and stressed animals lay eggs ribbons before they die - perhaps a futile attempt to produce a new generation.

Concerning feeding your nudibranchs. You say you have a 'sponge' to feed them. Its like saying you have a 'leaf' to feed a caterpillar. Nudibranchs, like caterpillars, are incredibly choosy. Each species has a particular sponge on which it feeds. I guess its possible, but most unlikely, that you two nudibranchs will eat the same sponge. I am sorry to sound negative, but as I have said many times before, aquarium shops should not be selling nudibranchs. They are just condemning them to a slow death by starvation.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Jan 24). Comment on Egg masses in my aquarium by Tana Landau. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8999

Factsheet

Hypselodoris bullocki - Page 3

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