Lettuce Nudibranch or Elysia Crispata Eggs  - 1/18/07
<Hey Michelle, JustinN with you today.>
  I just bought one of these magnificent creatures last week and it has laid an egg strip in my tank.  How long does it take before the eggs hatch and should I turn off my protein skimmer and cover the bottom of my filter so that the larvae don't get sucked up?  Any info at this point would help.
  Thank You
  Michelle Worley, Ohio
<I'm sorry, Michelle, but I can't seem to find any solid information on the gestation period of Elysia crispata eggs. Shutting off your protein skimmer will likely increase the chances of survival here. Good luck! -JustinN>

Sea hare sel., comp.  12/30/06
OK, so after moving my tank (150g Berlin, 250lbs live rock, light bio-load) I had a huge outbreak of long green hair algae. Covered everything. Tried cutting back on the light, but I only achieved making it's color less attractive. After reading all I could, I decided I didn't want to go with scraping, chemical, etc....but add a natural solution. When weighing out the pro's & con's of such grazers, I settled on a sea hare,
<Mmm, what species?>
as it seemed to be the most voracious grazer. I wasn't so worried about it dying, as my tank is quite healthy and there is much for it to eat....... but with such a nocturnal creature, how on earth would you know if something that you rarely (if ever, lately...) see?
<Mmm, the results of their night-time foraging?>
Also, in a 150g, how much pollution/death could I be facing if I do not find the body?
<Could be appreciable depending on the species, size... your filtration, maintenance...>
250lbs of rock is a pretty sizable pile to dig through. Thanks in advance, my briny friends!
  -Pat
<Do take care to try a tropical species (not a cool/coldwater one), that is, and stays small-ish. You have read here?: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/algaeconMar.htm
and the linked files above? There are other "biological means" to consider...
Bob Fenner>

Reef safe Nudibranchs   12/18/06
Hello:
Another question for the experts as I seem to get conflicting results from my many www searches and the LFS staff. Are there any nano-reef safe small-size sea slugs ?
<Mmm, yes... many Opisthobranchs that could be utilized... depending on your other livestock...>
I have a 3 month old 24G Nanocube which is doing well and don't want to repeat earlier mistakes. The information on Nudibranchs seems to vary and this in itself tells me to proceed with caution.
<Mmm, yes... by and large I would not use Nudibranchs... look to, read re other Opistos...>
I have seen "lettuce" sea slugs in my LFS's, as well as other more colourful species with a "Ricordea-like" texture on top. Thanks for the help, have been somewhat concerned about the number of species in the marine aquarium trade that really shouldn't be sold to hobbyists.....thanks again.
Karl
<Mmm, please see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seaslugsopisthobranchs.htm
and use the names presented as a starting point in searching further re this question. Bob Fenner>

Sea Hare Splitting? 10/23/06
Hi WWM crew,
<Hello Ryan>
I have a 35 gallon saltwater tank. There is a Coral Beauty, orange star fish, three crabs, and a Sea Hare. I woke up this morning and I saw my Sea Hare's skin splitting down the middle. There was something that looked like a white larva where the skin split. I took out the Sea Hare and moved it to a quarantine tank, because I heard they can kill your other fish when they die.
<Indeed.>
It hasn't moved around in the quarantine tank so I think it's dead. Do you have any idea of why it did this, or how I can prevent it in the future?
<Most Sea Hares, if not all, are very difficult to keep.  Should only be attempted by expert aquarists.  They do not appreciate bright light and are algae grazers.  I'm quite sure none of these conditions exist in your tank.  Try something a little more easier to keep in the future.>
Thanks for your reply!
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
Ryan Forsman

Sea Angels... pteropods... opisthobranchs...  - 05/10/2006
Hi,
< Hello! >
Can you purchase a Clione for  a pet ???? < I have never seen them on any list of availability. > Is it legal to have them in the United States . < I am not sure about that one. >   I would love to have one, they are so relaxing to watch them swim around < They may be obtainable through scientific supply houses. I strongly urge you to learn about their feeding habits, and learn how to raise their food first! There is more information to be had at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clione . >
Cheryl Chafatelli

Sea hare growth ... no info.   5/4/06
My sea hare has a what I can only describe as a growth on the side of her head, it started off as a little growth but by the evening it has grown really long, part of it is long and thin and the end piece is bulbous and a pale blue green colour she is still alive, any ideas???
       Thanks for your help
           Ellire
<Perhaps a tumor of some sort... I'd be checking your water quality, moving the animal if you have another "clean" system... doing water changes, employing chemical filtrant/s if nothing else. Bob Fenner>

Lettuce Sea Slug/Systems    4/10/06
I have 4 lettuce sea slugs in my 29g reef (yeah, probably 2 if not 3 too many). <Maybe four too many.> I have had them in there for a couple months.  Only one of them explores the entire tank, another explores sometimes, but the other two and the "sometimes" one mostly hang out on the glass at the top of the tank, in the direct flow of my power filter and obviously near the light, and the two don't move hardly at all.  I have a couple of times taken them all and placed them within the rock but they end up back at the tank top.
My question is, is this considered "normal"?  I figured they are partially photosynthetic but they are getting little if any solid food, other than what they may be filtering/catching in the water flow.  should I be concerned with their health?  <Yes, the Lettuce Sea Slugs are photosynthetic but need sufficient green algae to
survive.  Without providing this they will soon perish.> they so far don't seem to be adversely affected, at least on the outside.
Patrick  <James (Salty Dog)>
29g, Prizm skimmer, Marineland bio-wheel 200, 2x65w compact fluorescent, about 30lbs live rock, 1 goby and 1 blenny, several hermits and Astrea snails.