Lettuce Sea Slug, Green
Elysia crispata
You Tube Video of the Lettuce Sea Slug
Description:
Elysia crispata is typically green with white spots, however, individuals with other colors can be found. Some have a rainbow of blues and yellows decorating their frilled bodies. This peaceful, reef safe species is called the lettuce slug because of the green color, and very frilly edge circling their body. This makes the slug resemble the curly kinds of lettuce. Living in the tropical parts of the western Atlantic, in the Caribbea, they are found in coastal and coral reef areas where the ocean is shallow and clear. Elysia crispata is a herbivorous suctorial feeder. This species will eat the cell sap of algae but do not digest all of it. The lettuce sea slug will use its radula to pierce algal cells and suck their contents out by using its pharynx. Some of the chloroplasts that Elysia crispata eat are not digested. Instead, they are funnelled through specific passages in the digestive tract and stored in the parapodia. These chloroplasts, which can live inside the E. crispata for up to four months, undergo photosynthesis while living in the parapodia.
Tank Recommendations:
Aquarium Pump intakes, wavemakers, and drains must be screened so harm can't come to the Lettuce Sea Slug, so care should be taken to screen these off. Like all invertebrates they are sensitive to higher levels of nitrates and can not tolerate any copper based medications.
Food and diet:
The Lettuce Sea Sug is a herbivore, with the primary food source of E. crispata being algal plant species. They are known to consume a diversity of species such as Vaucheria litorea, Caulerpa verticillata, Caulerpa racemosa, Halimeda discoidea, Halimeda incrassate, Halimeda monile, and Penicillus capitatus; C. verticillata being suitable for a limited amount of time. This diversity in food sources is a different characteristic compared to other sea slugs who are specialized for one species of algae, and gives the Lettuce Sea Slug a survival advantage.
Level of Care:
Moderate
Acclimaton Time:
1+ hours
Reef Compatibility
: Excellent
Approximate Purchase Size:
3/4" to 1-1/2"
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Purple and Yellow Sea Slug
Hypselodoris bullocki
Description:
A beautiful sleek sea slug, there are several color morphs ranging from purple to blue and orange to yellow all with white outlines and orange antennas.
Tank Recommendations:
Aquarium Pump intakes, wavemakers, and drains must be screened so harm can't come to the Lettuce Sea Slug, so care should be taken to screen these off. Like all invertebrates they are sensitive to higher levels of nitrates and can not tolerate any copper based medications.
Food and diet:
Omnivore
Level of Care:
Difficult
Acclimaton Time:
1+ hours
Reef Compatibility
:Yes
Approximate Purchase Size:
1" to 2"
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Black-margined Sea Slug
Glossodoris atromarginata
Description:
A beautiful sleek sea slug, characterized by an ivory colored body with a dark blue to black margin around its ruffled edge and dark blue to black tips on its gills and antennae..
Tank Recommendations:
Aquarium Pump intakes, wavemakers, and drains must be screened so harm can't come to the Lettuce Sea Slug, so care should be taken to screen these off. Like all invertebrates they are sensitive to higher levels of nitrates and can not tolerate any copper based medications.
Food and diet:
Omnivore
Level of Care:
Difficult
Acclimaton Time:
1+ hours
Reef Compatibility
:Yes
Approximate Purchase Size:
1" to 2"
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Strawberry Sea Slug
Gymnodoris aurita
Description:
A beautiful sleek sea slug, the bright orange sea slug is called the Strawberry Sea Slug and Strawberry Nudibranch.
Tank Recommendations:
Aquarium Pump intakes, wavemakers, and drains must be screened so harm can't come to the Lettuce Sea Slug, so care should be taken to screen these off. Like all invertebrates they are sensitive to higher levels of nitrates and can not tolerate any copper based medications.
Food and diet:
Omnivore
Level of Care:
Difficult
Acclimaton Time:
1+ hours
Reef Compatibility
:Yes
Approximate Purchase Size:
1" to 3"
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The Warty Sea Slug
Phyllidia varicosa
Description:
This species is widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific Oceans including the central Pacific and the Red Sea.
Tank Recommendations:
Aquarium Pump intakes, wavemakers, and drains must be screened so harm can't come to the Lettuce Sea Slug, so care should be taken to screen these off. Like all invertebrates they are sensitive to higher levels of nitrates and can not tolerate any copper based medications.
Food and diet:
Omnivore
Level of Care:
Difficult
Acclimaton Time:
1+ hours
Reef Compatibility
:Yes
Approximate Purchase Size:
1" to 2"
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Chromodoris Magnifica
Sea Slug
Chromodoris magnifica
Description:
Bluish body with longitudinal dorsal black stripes, usually three in principal but many variations exist. Mantle has a yellow to red orange submarginal band. Rhinosphores and gills orange to red. Sometimes this species looks similar to Chromodoris annae but the latter lacks a centre stripe and has a finely speckled blue back. Length 40mm.
Tank Recommendations:
Aquarium Pump intakes, wavemakers, and drains must be screened so harm can't come to the Lettuce Sea Slug, so care should be taken to screen these off. Like all invertebrates they are sensitive to higher levels of nitrates and can not tolerate any copper based medications.
Food and diet:
Omnivore
Level of Care:
Difficult
Acclimaton Time:
1+ hours
Reef Compatibility
:Yes
Approximate Purchase Size:
1" to 2"
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