Are these Tritoniopsis elegans eggs?

January 25, 2003
From: Onel

I posted a question on 'About Saltwater Aquariums' and this site was recommended as possibly being able to help. Following is the original post:

"I purchased a Sinularia or Cladiella coral about two weeks ago. It's looked fine for the first few days but then started closing up. I changed it's position in the tank a few times but noticed yesterday that it was getting smaller and portions appeared to be deteriorating. Well, upon closer inspection I saw something eating away at the coral which looks like some sort of slug (I've seen them once before eating my Colt coral). I pulled out the rock to remove the slug and found a total of SIX, just eating away (coral is about 1/3 to 1/2 of it's original size). The slug withish/cream and is very well camouflaged with coral-mimicking tentacles".

I was searching through your Species List and believe that it's Tritoniopsis elegans (By the way, great wealth of information & pics on your site!!).

Anyhow, now I'm worried they may have laid eggs. On the bottom-side of the rock where the Cladiella is anchored, I see two strands hanging with what appears to be many little polyps / tenacles. At first, I thought it was some sort of coral but based on some of the information in your site for Tritoniopsis elegans, I'm afraid it could be eggs. I'm attaching a few pictures - could you please confirm if they are eggs so I can remove promptly??

Thanks,
Onel

onel_marcelo@msn.com

Dear Onel
Yes your animal is Tritoniopsis elegans and the other things do look a bit like its eggs. They are deposited in a jelly string like this with little white eggs. Marc Daniel' s recent message has a photo showing an egg mass. Although you can't see the spira arrangementof the whole egg ribbon you can see the typical zigzag folding of the ribbon.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Jan 25). Comment on Are these Tritoniopsis elegans eggs? by Onel. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9055

Factsheet

Tritoniopsis elegans

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