What is this icky huge slug?? **PICS**

[BCShelly]

Last week I lost 2 fish and found no remnants of them in my tank. I set a trap and caught nothing. Then today I come home and found this slug peeking out from under one of my rocks. I quickly got him out and he's currently floating in a plastic bag. He has this really weird grabby hand like thing on his butt, you can see it in one of the pic's. He is black with a purple outline. Any idea what this is?? Should I get rid of him? I wonder if he's the midnight fish killer. Thanks! All the help you guys give is great for us new salt water addicts!

[findingnemo1]

Sounds like a nudibranch. Could be good depending on what kind.

I will see if i can come up with something for u.

Lisa

[Delphinus]

Far out. I have no idea if that's your culprit but man that is an unusual easter egg.

Here are some resources you can try:
http://seaslugforum.net/ (you can try posting your pictures there and asking for an ID, or check the species pages)
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seaslugsopisthobranchs.htm (and/or you can email the WWM crew, they usually respond within 24 hours)
Also:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nudibran.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nudispt2.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nudispt3.htm

Cool find anyhow, I think. :) Best of luck finding the ID, and if you do find it, please do post back here what you find out! Thanks!

[tang daddy]

damn that's one big black thinger magig!! I hope to never see one in my reef keepin but from what I read nudi's don't eat fish but rather corals if you ask me I wouldn't keep it going on that fact hope you find out if it's good or not and let us know.ps maybe trying takin pics of it under tank lights it's alittle hard to see it well with the incandesent lighting.

[BCShelly]

Thanks I've posted on the sea slug site, maybe they can help. The slug is still alive in the plastic bag this morning. I am afraid to put it back in my tank. It's about 2 inches long and it has 2 antenna like horns! I'll keep you posted if I can identify it.

[Black Phantom]

Looks very nice from the pics. Maybe a Rhinophore but hard to tell. Don't let it die as I'm sure they just eat sponges and such. Thats why they are so hard to keep in captivity, not enough food source.
As far as losing fish and not finding them - the rest of your fish probably consumed their tankmates if they died. Anything new added to your tank lately to cause a couple of fish deaths?

[justinl]

looks like a pretty cool nudi if you ask me. how big is it? I have never heard of fish a eating nudibranch before. as mentioned the vast majority of them feed on hydroids, coral, sponge, tunicate or a mix of the above. the big grabby hand thing (i like your description :)) would be its gill. my bet is that your dead fish were eaten by hermits and fish. that or just lost in your rockwork somewhere

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I would tend to agree with Justin & the others. Look at your hermits & clean up crew as the cause behind those "disappearances" since that is their job after all. (to scavenge)

Anthony

[Brighteyes_13]

i agree with all the above, was probably its tankmates/cleanup crew that got em.


but as for fish eating nudis.... i found this page you might find interesting http://slugsite.us/bow/nudwk295.htm

[justinl]

woooo... thx for that link brighteyes. that was a lil tid bit of info i didnt see coming! parasitic nudis. who'da thunk it?

[BCShelly]

Thanks for all the info, I am going to put this guy back into my tank as I really can't see how he could eat fish. He is quite interesting to look at, wonder if I'll see him again. If the slug website identifies him I'll let you know what he really is.

[kwirky]

be careful with nudibranches. Many of them are highly toxic when they die. Could kill your tank if/when it dies.