Berghia Nudibranch Advice?

[Xxero]

I have a shipment of Berghia Nudibranch arriving this morning, and I was wondering if anyone had any receiving/acclimating advice to give? I have read the acclimation recommendations from the provider, but I was thinking that someone might have some additional input/warnings?

ThanX!

[mcgyvr]

Follow the providers instructions so that warranty claims are not voided..

[alton]

Use the applicator that comes with them, turn off all flow, make sure when you place them down on your rock they catch hold with there footing before adding another, do not place directly on a aptasia. Hopefully you do not have wrasses or peppermint shrimp. Start watching for egg strings on on you glass so not to scrape off. Also have patience, they will start eating on the ones you do not see before eating on the ones you do see. Once they get large enough to lay eggs, it won't take long.

[Xxero]

Originally Posted by alton

Use the applicator that comes with them, turn off all flow, make sure when you place them down on your rock they catch hold with there footing before adding another, do not place directly on a aptasia. Hopefully you do not have wrasses or peppermint shrimp. Start watching for egg strings on on you glass so not to scrape off. Also have patience, they will start eating on the ones you do not see before eating on the ones you do see. Once they get large enough to lay eggs, it won't take long.

Awesome! Thank you.

[sde1500]

Keep us updated on how it works out with them. Looking into getting some myself. My aiptasia aren't over running everything, but have noticeably spread recently. Just worried how they'll hold up with my Melanurus...

[soulpatch]

My melanurus enjoyed his $50 snack.....


I wish these would work in my tank but no luck thus far. My filefish is hit or miss as well at the moment.

[Xxero]

I just successfully transferred them into my tank, and I have to tell you...that was stressful.

They are sOo0oOo tiny that I felt like I was performing surgery. I hope all goes well, too. I don't have very many aiptasia, but there are quite a few in the back of my rockwork. I have been treating (unsuccessfully) the aiptasia that I can get to with Aiptasia X, but they always come back.

I figure that I will try the Berghia and cross my fingers.

I will keep everyone posted.

[sde1500]

Originally Posted by soulpatch

My melanurus enjoyed his $50 snack.....

ugh

[Xxero]

Quick update on my Berghia Nudibranch venture. I wanted to wait until well past the 3 month mark before posting anything, and please keep in mind...this is just my particular situation.

I haven't seen any results, but there are many factors that could have contributed to this. As far as I know, I don't have any Berghia predators, but I feel that maybe my hermit crabs could have picked them off? Don't know for sure?

Another thing...I was in the process of trying to correct a Turf Algae issue (which was a tough one), so maybe that had something to do with it?

That's about all that I have on the situation. I'm not completely giving up on the Nudibranch, but so far, my Aiptasia are still holding firm.

[soulpatch]

I'm personally yanking my Melanarus and buying nudi to go after mine. Pretty penny about to be dropped but worth it if I get rid of em...

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[moondoggy4]

If the Berghia comes in a bag try to remove them from the bag after you acclimate them and place them in a container, that way the Berghia will climb out on their own and not get blown into a Aptisa.

[Bent]

Pics dude
Pics.

[HBtank]

If you can afford to, setup a tank for them and feed/breed them externally. This is the safest method to guarantee success. There are guides and it is very easy to do. IME big ones will lay eggs right away, had three egg clusters already in my shipping bag I cut out. I have hermits, ones bought as small "reef safe" hermits that a few grew into little monsters (for hermits), and snail killers. But I have never seen them go near them.

I personally used my refugium and split an order of 20 (16 ordered) into 13/7 and made the refugium a nursery. According to what I read, half of their eggs hatch free swimming and half as slugs, so I was hoping it could populate the display. Don't know if it mattered, and at least I had some protected. I used screen to seclude them from baffles, but they can fit through almost any hole crack. In the display I turned down pumps until settled (MP40) but have ran them high much of the time. When I saw them in the vicinity of aiptasia and near a current (will be in areas for days, will notice nems vanishing or check at night), I turned them down though. Honestly though, if you have lots of aiptasia and get them going, it doesn't matter, I have been turkey basting for a month and there have been casualties and it has not made a dent.

You can kind of track their progress, they are methodical and work through areas, forming groups when really going. Pretty sure they spawn right after in those groups. Hide under rocks all day mostly and take down full nems overnight.

Estimated 1000+ aptasia to start, down to a cluster of 5 tonight and a few scattered in the DT, so days are left. Looking through rocks in my refugium, picked clean. I probably have 100 2" nudis now, can be bothered to see anything but the monsters in the DT.

Delivered on December 9th, so a little over 2 months.



This was a big one out in the day, so it caught my eye; it went to the middle nem and nibbled on it. The nem spat out its guts and was not happy, and within 2 days this one wand the others were gone. Interesting to watch, almost as if they tagged them like lumberjacks do to trees.. lol

[HBtank]

Snapped a pic of my CUC, snails and nudis on the front glass:



And yes, my snails need to pick up the slack!

[Xxero]

Looking at the replies, I can see where things may have gone awry (still not giving up on them though). I purchased 10 of them. They came in their own little plastic tub container. I successfully transferred each one of them, all in the same area, and right around a few of the aiptasia. Thing is, they were only about a quarter of an inch long, and there was little to no film algae in the tank at the time because of the Turf treatment (but I thought that they only eat aiptasia?).

I will post some current pics of the system in the morning. I have left the aiptasia alone since introducing the Nudibranch, and I would guess that they have doubled in numbers since.

Thank you guys for your input!

[HBtank]

They don’t eat algae, just I have so many around they were wandering in the glass. Lights had been out for an hour or so and I turned them on.

[alton]

I found egg strings on my glass sometimes, look before you clean it. And like HBtank stated next time large, hopefully there is not a next time. I have never added more than 5, and most times 3 to 4. When I had a local supplier I only added two that where carrying eggs.

[Xxero]

Originally Posted by Bent

Pics dude
Pics.

That's all I have for now, Homie. I'm going to try Peppermint Shrimp next.

[Bent]

Originally Posted by Xxero

That's all I have for now, Homie. I'm going to try Peppermint Shrimp next.

That one pic with the zoas hurts my heart...

[Xxero]

Me too. I'll pick up a couple of Peppermint Shrimp and see if they'll do the trick. Every system is different....That's kind of what I like about this hobby.

[Xxero]

Originally Posted by Bent

That one pic with the zoas hurts my heart...

Picked up 3 Peppermint Shrimp today.
(Fingers crossed)