Nudibranch diet

[Chela101]

I got this as a gift from my friend for my Bday. And I honestly don’t know what kind it is and its diet…. Other than algae… I have algae wafers and some algea sheets… anything said that could possibly help me is greatly appreciated

 

[IKD]

so…I believe it’s this but honestly they are extremely difficult to keep based on their exclusive diets (yellow sponge for this one). Please read up and look at options to return it if you cannot meet the care needs. They are very beautiful creatures but best left to the ocean.

The Apolegma Nudibranch - Whats That Fish!

Also known as the Apolegma Sea Slug. The Apolegma Nudibranch is found in the Western Pacific Ocean region growing up to 4cm in length. Found on rubble and sandy areas, of coral and rocky reefs. They feed exclusively on yellow sponges. Length - 4cm...

www.whatsthatfish.com

 

[Stomatopods17]

Sadly nudibranchs are one of those “shouldn’t even be collected” animals. They eat a species specific food and often don’t share the same food source with other species of nudibranches.

The one you have is a sponge eater and I don’t believe it’s known exactly what kind of sponge, it’s going to starve.

I’m not sure what exactly the it’s species is but I’m leaning on H. Bullocki

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, likely Hypselodoris apolegma - a sponge eater that will starve in your tank; it will not eat anything other than a few highly specific sponges.

At this stage of the hobby, I agree with the comments above that these animals really shouldn't be collected.

Hypselodoris sp. probably Hypselodoris apolegma. These guys reportedly eat sponges, specifically "a blue-purple dysideid sponge of the genus Euryspongia"* and possibly a few other sponges as well (such as the red sponge in question in the link below where I pulled the quote above from; importantly, these guys do not eat any sponge offered them - sponges are a very diverse group, and nudibranchs are incredibly picky).

Edit: the link.

The Sea Slug Forum - Hypselodoris apolegma

www.seaslugforum.net

Yeah, H. bullocki and H. apolegma look super similar (and they were thought to be the same species until very recently), as does H. variobranchia. My understanding (which may be wrong) of how to differentiate between H. bullocki and H. apolegma is the spotting around the skirt (no spots meaning H. bullocki, with spots meaning H. apolegma).

 

[Chela101]

Yeah, likely Hypselodoris apolegma - a sponge eater that will starve in your tank; it will not eat anything other than a few highly specific sponges.

At this stage of the hobby, I agree with the comments above that these animals really shouldn't be collected.

Well honestly not even my local shops know how to take care of it because they told me to give it seaweed…. So either someone takes him off my hands which sucks because it was a gift…..

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Well honestly not even my local shops know how to take care of it because they told me to give it seaweed…. So either someone takes him off my hands which sucks because it was a gift…..

Yeah, an unfortunate number of shops sell these sorts of critters either mistakenly believing they'll eat something in our tanks or just flat out lying about what they eat - it's a very unfortunate practice.

 

[IKD]

Well honestly not even my local shops know how to take care of it because they told me to give it seaweed…. So either someone takes him off my hands which sucks because it was a gift…..

I wouldn’t feel bad giving it away. Your friend basically gave you a pet that’s impossible to care for. If anyone should feel bad it should be them, right? Maybe try a local aquarium or another pet store? Sorry, I wish there were more options to offer you.