Nudibranch Care

[GARRIGA]

Was always fascinated with the colors of nudibranches back in the 80s but even then knew they were specialist and not long for life in a tank. Curious if any have kept certain species besides Berghia that perhaps food could be provided. In some respects. They rival the colors of many corals.

 

[KrisReef]

Most of these are specific predators on something in the natural habitat. Our tanks are generally not able to support them long term because prey runs out. These general principles are why I don't bring them home, other than Berghia and those disappeared, maybe the big Aiptasia ate them?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

that perhaps food could be provided

Honestly, the best candidate I've found so far for this (Edit: and it's still not a good one, if I'm being completely open about it) is the Chamberlain Nudibranch, and it would take a pretty intensive amount of effort to attempt it (and it might not work):

These guys are unusual for dorid nudibranchs in that they actually feed on tunicates, not on sponges (your LFS was actually closer to accurate about the diet than most I've heard of selling nudibranchs though).

They don't seem to terribly selective as far as which tunicates they eat, so these ones may potentially be able to be kept if you can grow out some invasive tunicates fast enough.

Since you likely don't already have a large amount of fast growing, colonial tunicates (which would likely require a healthy amount of phytoplankton to grow), though, I expect your nudibranch will slowly starve to death - sorry.

If you want to try and save/keep it, you can buy tunicates from a variety of places, but the only species I'm aware of that is sold at the moment that might be able to grow fast enough is the Golden Star Tunicate, Botryllus schlosseri:

Golden Star Tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri) | Gulf Of Maine, Inc.

Common name: golden star tunicate Scientific name: Botryllus schlosseri Locations: found on pilings, floats, rocks, buoys, kelp, & in tide-pools Seasonality: available year round Colors: peachy - brown and black with white and yellow zo

gulfofme.com

Golden Star Tunicates are highly invasive, but they tend to prefer colder water - I can go into the specific methods of feeding and culturing these if you'd like, but it takes a few weeks for them to really start growing, and you'd need quite a large colony to provide enough food for your nudibranch long-term.

Anyway, for some more specific info on their diet and to see a number of different tunicates that they may feed on, see the links below:
The Sea Slug Forum - Nembrotha chamberlaini Nembrotha chamberlaini nudibranch Anilao