nudi predator?

tampasnooker · Mar 31, 2010

I just came in and found a new nudi in my DT. It isn't like the frilly zoa eating nudis that I've seen in the past. These are smooth with 2 small appendages in the front. I removed 6 from the glass and had never seen them before. I assume this is why a couple zoa colonies have shrunk.

Any suggestions for a predator/treatment? I have a 6 line and yellow 'coris' wrasse for maintenance duties already.

MikeB · Mar 31, 2010

Could be a stomatella. Got any pictures.

650-IS350 · Mar 31, 2010

stomatella snails - Google Search

The Coral Vault :: Coral Database - Zoanthid Eating Nudi

CoralPedia.com! :: The definitive repository for named Corals!

tampasnooker · Mar 31, 2010

I'll see if I can post pics later. So far these slugs are none of the above. It has no shell and is def a type of nudi - smooth, creme colored body without the cerrata(?) appendages like the zoa eating nudi. I found 6 of them on the glass today and have never seen them before. The last addition to the tank were some mama zoa colonies that I moved out of my frag system over a month ago. I'd been working with them for a while and thought they were clean.
It's just wierd that they showed up suddenly. Perhaps the recently added yellow wrasse (last week) scared them from hiding. Asterinas came from everywhere the day I added a harlequin shrimp. I wonder if in both cases the prey is just fleeing from the new predator.

650-IS350 · Mar 31, 2010

rats fleeing a sinking ship... lol

Carlton'stank · Mar 31, 2010

I would dip all colonies frags in that particular tank in Revive. The Revive will get the adult nudis off, but you will need to inspect and remove all of the eggs which will be in a "C" shaped formation usually near the base of the zoas. The sixline and the yellow wrasse should help, but once they start reproducing they can get out of hand. Good luck.

tampasnooker · Apr 1, 2010

Here's the lil buggers. Not the best shot but... They do resemble stomatellas but lack any kind of shell. I'm trying to avoid dipping if I can - there are over 50 colonies carpeting the bottom of my 180 and I'm not sure that these are zoa specific. I've already dipped these all in Revive and never saw any adults slough off. Maybe some eggs got past security when I dipped them. The fact that so many appeared so suddenly is a bit scary.

650-IS350 · Apr 1, 2010

flat worm
Indo Pacific Snails

tampasnooker · Apr 2, 2010

Thanks for the link. Juvenile P. smaragdinus is most similar. The write up says it is an herbivore - but I don't trust it. Mine have sightly more pronounced eye stalks. But, in their defense - I've onle seen them on the glass and crossing 2 rocks - not on any corals or zoas.

That is the most similar one in that link. Looks like I have to pull everything tomorrow and give it a good strong soak in Revive and inspect for eggs if I want to be sure - unless anyone has a better dip suggestion specific to nudis.

650-IS350 · Apr 2, 2010

I just keep yellow coris, Leopards, mystery ( previously ), red fairy as my guard dogs in my 37 gal. I dip religiously and inspect every frag before I place them in. My YC inspects every frag the minute it's in the tank and while it's still in my hand.

tampasnooker · Apr 3, 2010

I think for a 180 I should increase the number of guardian wrasses. Aw shucks, more pretty fish...

tampasnooker · Apr 3, 2010

Just dipped 25 zoa, shroom and blue xenia colonies in a strong Revive bath. Predators removed: 1/2 an asterina, 6 amphipods. I still have not seen these nudis on a coral and am about to write them off as herbivores, but am perplexed about how such a bright white nudi escaped notice for so long. I have now removed over 25 in the last 3 days.
I did not find any egg spirals or 'c's on the polyps. Every photo I've seen shows the egg mass on the polyp itself.

I still don't trust them...

650-IS350 · Apr 4, 2010

either on the polyp it self, on the polyp matt or around it.

tampasnooker · Apr 4, 2010

Eureka! The 26th piece was the answer. I had a relatively new piece of green anthellia that was partly hidden while it acclimated. Must've had 50 slugs on it when I dipped it. Now I just have to hope that they don't find another foood source. At least they are bright white and should be easy to see for manual removal.
It's comforting to know I at least found the source. Thanks for you help.