Berghia nudibranch

[VintageReefer]

I keep my house at 68-69 so on to the kitchen counter they will go

 

[Jmp998]

Lowering the Berghia temp is helpful when your Berghia:Aiptasia ratio is too high. They will complete their entire life cycle as low as 67F. I have not tried lower for a full life cycle, because that is as cold as I set my home thermostat in the winter if I am home. Of course the lower temperature also decreases feeding rate, slows growth and development, etc as you would expect.

If the Berghia have been at a low temperature for a long time, I raise them back up slowly (72F for a day, 75F for a day, then 78F for a few days) before rehoming them to avoid a temperature shock, but I don't know if that is really necessary.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Captured 6 easily.
1 small
4 medium
1 medium - large with reddish tones
1 large with reddish tones

I would sell the group for 40$ + sh
Keep in mind the large sell for 27$ a piece and I haven’t seen them available in months.

issue is we need fast shipping and there’s no movement on sundays.

Anyone interested I have a water tight jar and insulated boxes. Send me a pm

I want some of those beasts

 

[ronsonb]

I added 14 to my 75g tank in January. Berghia are pack hunters until they are fully grown. To truly outcompete the aiptasia which are constantly reproducing, your berghia need to reproduce also. They need to lay eggs and start the process of multiplying beyond the amount we originally buy

I have defeated massive infestations twice with berghia. What I learned is

1) a tank is very large for them. Aiptasia is everywhere. I divide the tank in thirds and make 3 berghia starting colonies. I turn off flow completely and using a wide pipette tool, I place them in groups of 5 on the left, center, and right side of the tank. Let them grab on rock and hide. And then then on flow and lights.

2 months went by. 2 months. And I didn’t see a single berghia. And I was checking at night with a flashlight. Didn’t see one for 2 months.

Then one day at almost exactly the two month mark, I found one at night. And then I saw it again the next night. And a few days later I saw 2. And from then on I could find a few out at night at any random time I chose to look. Then I started seeing big huge ones in the day time. I saw groups of smaller ones working together to eat aiptasia.

This all started around mid to late march. We are now at the end of April and I haven’t been able to find an aiptasia for a week and the berghia are randomly found in my sump or floating / drifting looking for new spots. I am convinced if I had any aiptasia they would be on top of it.

These came from reef town btw

This is promising. This is reefing… I don’t mind waiting as long as it works!! I also bought from Reeftown just got them this week 8 medium for my 75 gallon RS 350.

I had been manually fighting the aptasia demons and it was slowly getting worse… and worse…Then bam!! Now manually it’s like wack a mole haha It was when I started seeing them on the sand I realized I was losing the battle terribly.

Hopefully 8 are enough to reproduce and flourish , they certainly have plenty to eat!! I put them all in the same area which in hindsight should have split it 4/4 in each half of the tank, but I figured all in one area was best bet to assure some would make it and reproduce.

Should I continue to kill the aptasia manually you think? Because in 3-4 months tank will be overrun!

 

[VintageReefer]

This is promising. This is reefing… I don’t mind waiting as long as it works!! I also bought from Reeftown just got them this week 8 medium for my 75 gallon RS 350.

I had been manually fighting the aptasia demons and it was slowly getting worse… and worse…Then bam!! Now manually it’s like wack a mole haha It was when I started seeing them on the sand I realized I was losing the battle terribly.

Hopefully 8 are enough to reproduce and flourish , they certainly have plenty to eat!! I put them all in the same area which in hindsight should have split it 4/4 in each half of the tank, but I figured all in one area was best bet to assure some would make it and reproduce.

Should I continue to kill the aptasia manually you think? Because in 3-4 months tank will be overrun!

It will be ok but might take a little longer for them to spread out. First priority for them will be to breed and make eggs

Stop going after aiptasia manually unless it’s actually stinging a coral. There will be no need in a few months. You are on a path to success. As long as you have no predators then you just need time

 

[VintageReefer]

I have not seen one aiptasia return

 

[LFGJP]

This is promising. This is reefing… I don’t mind waiting as long as it works!! I also bought from Reeftown just got them this week 8 medium for my 75 gallon RS 350.

I had been manually fighting the aptasia demons and it was slowly getting worse… and worse…Then bam!! Now manually it’s like wack a mole haha It was when I started seeing them on the sand I realized I was losing the battle terribly.

Hopefully 8 are enough to reproduce and flourish , they certainly have plenty to eat!! I put them all in the same area which in hindsight should have split it 4/4 in each half of the tank, but I figured all in one area was best bet to assure some would make it and reproduce.

Should I continue to kill the aptasia manually you think? Because in 3-4 months tank will be overrun!

Hey! In a few months when it’s over run, I’ll take a bunch from you.. I’m trying to get more and breed Berghias! So please lmk!

 

[ronsonb]

Hey! In a few months when it’s over run, I’ll take a bunch from you.. I’m trying to get more and breed Berghias! So please lmk!

I’m assuming they’ll breed like crazy so I should have plenty!

 

[LFGJP]

I’m assuming they’ll breed like crazy so I should have plenty!

I got some
From @VintageReefer they were big ol’ healthy ones but all the sudden melted! I got one left I think my temp was a bit too low!

 

[Jmp998]

I got some
From @VintageReefer they were big ol’ healthy ones but all the sudden melted! I got one left I think my temp was a bit too low!

Low temps (within reason) don’t bother them, they will breed etc at least down to mid 60’s.

 

[VintageReefer]

That’s crazy! I’m sorry that happened I have no idea why when they arrived in good shape

 

[LFGJP]

Low temps (within reason) don’t bother them, they will breed etc at least down to mid 60’s.

What do you think made them melt?! I used my tank water all levels were normal… they arrived ate a ton… then all the sudden started melting

 

[LFGJP]

That’s crazy! I’m sorry that happened I have no idea why when they arrived in good shape

Oh yeah they were good I definitely screwed up
Some how

 

[VintageReefer]

I’ve never heard of this tbh very strange especially since they were eating

 

[Jmp998]

I don't know why they melted. They will tolerate poor and variable water conditions in my experience. I have only melted them by feeding them sick/dying aiptasia (tried feeding them aiptasia from an aiptasia tank that had crashed).

 

[LFGJP]

I don't know why they melted. They will tolerate poor and variable water conditions in my experience. I have only melted them by feeding them sick/dying aiptasia (tried feeding them aiptasia from an aiptasia tank that had crashed).

So weird that was my same logic.. as their main/only source of food is aptasia they can tolerate the same conditions? Not to mention my water was from my main tank which has tons of fish SPS/LPS etc..
Really not sure only thing that was different was temps dipping
Aptasia are thriving hahah multiplying like crazy so I don’t think it’s the sick aptasia…

I got one doing well..
hopefully the next batch.. I’ll have better luck

 

[reefsUP2]

I was thinking of getting some berghia ro help eradicate some aiptasia before they explode in numbers. What methods can be used to recapture the nudibranchs once the aiptasia are gone? I was looking to rehome them rather than letting them starve to death.

Berghias are great just remember once they are done with the aptasia they will die off I prefer them over peppermint shrimps.