Zoanthid Eating Nudibranchs are parasites known to feed on corals. They are small, snail-like creatures that often take on the color of the corals they are eating, making them difficult to find. Nudibranchs appear to eat Zoanthid polyps. They lay their eggs on Zoas and reproduce rapidly. Although the nudibranchs themselves can be removed, their eggs are very persistent and difficult to locate.
Parent Géry, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Life cycle
The eggs are laid in a circular pattern. These nudibranchs are believed to be asexual and do not need another individual to breed.
Prevention
Each time before placing corals in the aquarium, dip them in a suitable coral dip, for example CoralRx. Also review the corals and locate any parasite eggs on them.
How to get rid of nudibranchs?
The easiest way is to remove the coral from the aquarium, dip it and manually remove the eggs laid on it. You will have to perform the procedure several times every few days. We can also try with hexataenia (six-line wrasse), which can eat these “snails”. Other types of wrasses may also eat the parasite.
Summary
If Zoanthid Eating Nudibranchs appeared in our aquarium and we decided to use the method of dipping corals, remember to follow the rules of correct dipping, which we described in a dedicated article on ReefPedia.
About the author
Marek Protasewicz
Reefkeeping has been my passion for over 10 years now. I love learning. The hobby has taught me many valuable lessons, patience being the best example.
Combining work and passion is my path. I run Crazy Coral, a marine aquarium shop, for a number of years. Building this business from the scratch I learnt from my own mistakes at a heavy cost.
Later I managed a project aimed at development of methods for quick growth of Corals in non-natural conditions. The project was carried out by Get Sales, Poland.
Presently, I am responsible for distribution strategy at Reef Factory, of which I am a
co-founder. The company produces smart devices for marine aquaristics.
The last projects I have been involved in are Social Reef and ReefPedia.
My social media profiles
