This thread is to chronicle the propagation of Berghia Nudibranch. To begin the Nudibranch do not need an extensive amount of care. They need stable salinity, a steady supply of Aiptasia, and a sheltered area to grow.
For this experiment I am using an 800 ml caped container I got from IKEA. I added a acrylic airline into the container to provide adequate oxygenation. I also provided a shorter acrylic airline as a blowoff valve.
I started with six .25 inch juvenile nudibranch and a large culture of aiptasia growing in a 5.5 gallon tank with an adequate heater and no light.
The setup is as follows.
the 5.5 gallon aqueon tank was purchased at petco for $14
the container for the nudibranch cost $2.99 I bought two.
The airline and air-pump I had laying around from previous tanks
I used regular rustoleum paint and primer spray paint I had from working around the house.
rocks filled with aiptasia were donated (or traded for dry rock I had laying around)
I painted both long sides and one short side of the tank. Filled it with saltwater at 1.025 specific gravity.
I drilled two holes in the cork stopper for the air inlet and outlet.
I cut two pieces of acrylic. The first one I cut so that I would have approximately an inch above the cork and 3/4 of the way down the container. The second I cut so it was an inch above the cork and just peeking out below the bottom of the cork.
I used a heat gun to heat up one end of the longer acrylic rod and push an airline connector into one end. This is to be able to attach the air pump to for a small amount of airflow.
After finishing up the brood container, I built a little stand so that the bottom of the cork will remain approximately 1/2 inch above the tank's waterline. After this I hooked up the airline so that 2-3 small bubbles escape per 1 second of time. This will provide adequate flow and oxygen exchange for the nudibranch to thrive.
Before adding the nudibranch, make sure the flow is turned off. These are very delicate animals and shouldn't be blown around by the flow. When you add them it is best to use a baster with a large enough opening to suck them up without damaging the cerata (spines on their back). Place them inside the container after it has been put inside of your tank. After the nudibranch settle in, add a smaller aiptasia for every 2 nudibranch. You can add these on a smaller rock that can be easily removed after the nudibranch have eaten the aiptasia. When Adding aiptasia to the container keep in mind that the nudibranch can still be stung or even eaten by the aiptasia so be careful when adding them individually or on a rock.
I personally razor cut the aiptasia off of the rock and place it in the tank with tweezers.
After having ran this for a total of 8 days I have 14 egg spirals inside of the container at the moment of writing this post. We will see how they progress as I continue to document this endeavor.
I will post images and videos as I move through this project.
For this experiment I am using an 800 ml caped container I got from IKEA. I added a acrylic airline into the container to provide adequate oxygenation. I also provided a shorter acrylic airline as a blowoff valve.
I started with six .25 inch juvenile nudibranch and a large culture of aiptasia growing in a 5.5 gallon tank with an adequate heater and no light.
The setup is as follows.
the 5.5 gallon aqueon tank was purchased at petco for $14
the container for the nudibranch cost $2.99 I bought two.
The airline and air-pump I had laying around from previous tanks
I used regular rustoleum paint and primer spray paint I had from working around the house.
rocks filled with aiptasia were donated (or traded for dry rock I had laying around)
I painted both long sides and one short side of the tank. Filled it with saltwater at 1.025 specific gravity.
I drilled two holes in the cork stopper for the air inlet and outlet.
I cut two pieces of acrylic. The first one I cut so that I would have approximately an inch above the cork and 3/4 of the way down the container. The second I cut so it was an inch above the cork and just peeking out below the bottom of the cork.
I used a heat gun to heat up one end of the longer acrylic rod and push an airline connector into one end. This is to be able to attach the air pump to for a small amount of airflow.
After finishing up the brood container, I built a little stand so that the bottom of the cork will remain approximately 1/2 inch above the tank's waterline. After this I hooked up the airline so that 2-3 small bubbles escape per 1 second of time. This will provide adequate flow and oxygen exchange for the nudibranch to thrive.
Before adding the nudibranch, make sure the flow is turned off. These are very delicate animals and shouldn't be blown around by the flow. When you add them it is best to use a baster with a large enough opening to suck them up without damaging the cerata (spines on their back). Place them inside the container after it has been put inside of your tank. After the nudibranch settle in, add a smaller aiptasia for every 2 nudibranch. You can add these on a smaller rock that can be easily removed after the nudibranch have eaten the aiptasia. When Adding aiptasia to the container keep in mind that the nudibranch can still be stung or even eaten by the aiptasia so be careful when adding them individually or on a rock.
I personally razor cut the aiptasia off of the rock and place it in the tank with tweezers.
After having ran this for a total of 8 days I have 14 egg spirals inside of the container at the moment of writing this post. We will see how they progress as I continue to document this endeavor.
I will post images and videos as I move through this project.
