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Nudibranch Hitchhiker on Sponge

Boomer here is the link I was given on Reef Central with that particular name:

http://www.nudipixel.net/photo/00004483/

It could be misnamed, or a mistake, but the pictures sure looks alot like the one I have.

Switch someone replied on the thread I started in reef central and said Ercolania margaritae is a vegetarian. If that is true that would be wonderful!

Time will tell I guess. Saw it again last night cruising the reef (not on the sponge). Will keep you posted of any new developments.
 
Jimmy

The Spanish Shawl has red rhinophores...mine does not.

I agree on that but neither does yours they are Blue and the body on yours also looks like it blue or dark/blue. These you posted have a white body and white rhinophores. I do not think it is a Ercolania sp

said Ercolania margaritae is a vegetarian

That is because Jim it is not a Nudibranch but a Sacoglossa, aka Sap-Sucker = Alage eater and why I could not find it. I found what you have, it is a Stiliger aureomarginatus It is in one of my books that has a section on Sacog's, page 163.

Stiliger aureomarginatus
http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=21079


Just like yours
http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=21102
 
Phyl yes I have Chaeto.

Boomer that is 100% IT without a doubt!!!! Thank you so much for the correct ID. That is the perfect match right down to the blue body. Now I wonder if it can survive off of the algae in my tank?
 
Now that is a Nudibrach. Something I missed on your first post and the guy from RC must of caught and I just spaced it out. Sacoglossians have Rhinophores but no oral tentacles. Go back and look at the pics. Now look at your new pics, the have both of them.

This is a Aeoled Nudibranch and more than likley one of the Cuthona sp, like Cuthona viridianaand found in the same area as your Sacago'. There are no pics of it on the net but the pics below are as close as I can come. Almost all Cuthona sp feed on hydroids, a good thing. But if there are none, well then who knows, as some Nukes will just start to dine on something else like that sponge of yours. All "Nukes" are predatory animals.

Here are some examples of

Cuthona
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&um=1&q=cuthona&sa=N&start=63&ndsp=21

Cuthona gymnota
http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=3998

Cuthona amoena
http://www.natuurlijkmooi.net/zeeland/naaktslakken/cuthona_amoena.htm

Cuthona albocrusta
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?stat=BROWSE_IMG&where-ordr=nudibranchia&where-namesoup=White-crusted+Cuthona&rel-namesoup=matchphrase&title_tag=White-crusted+Cuthona
 
Boomer thanks for all of your help on identifying these guys for me it's much appreciated! I do have some colonial hydroids in a few spots in my tank. I returned him to my tank, and he is welcome to munch on them all he wants. ;) As long as I don't see either of them do any real damage they just add to the biodiversity of my system and are welcome to stay. I'll closely monitor the both of them. Thanks again!
 
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