unidentified creature

Owen · Aug 18, 2014

We let my son set up a saltwater aquarium. We added a rock with star polyps on it about a week ago. We noticed on the bottom side was a small anemone. Looks just like an anemone when it doesn't move. But once we saw it move we know it's not. Does anyone know what this is?

pickupman66 · Aug 18, 2014

some type of nudibranch...

Mike&Terry · Aug 18, 2014

Pest nudibranch. You will want to remove it, dip your star polyps and remove any eggs.

The Sea Slug Forum - Phyllodesmium briareum

Owen · Aug 18, 2014

Thanks for the help. We identified the creature. It is a type of nudibranch. It's a Phyllodesmium briareum. It eats soft coral. Once we found what it was we couldn't find it. Once the lights went out and the moon lights came on it came out. We were able to catch it. Thanks again.

Squishie89 · Aug 18, 2014

Hey I was just at Harpers Ferry on Friday, went to RiverRiders!

But unfortunately most nudibranchs that hitchhike into tanks are not good. Nudi's are speacilized feeders so they usually only eat one type of thing, like sponges or zoanthids or soft coral.