Berghia Nudibranchs

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Aiptasia-eating nudibranch

Synonyms

Aeolidiella stephanieae

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Western Atlantic, Caribbean, Florida

Habitat

Shallow reef and lagoon waters, 1-2 m depth, among rockwork where Aiptasia anemones are present

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

0.5 – 1 in (1.3 – 2.5 cm)

Lifespan

1 – 2 yrs

Min tank

10 gal (38 L)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Rock & glass

Water

Temperature

72 – 80 °F (22 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 14 dKH

Salinity

1.023 – 1.026 SG

Flow

Low

Behavior & compatibility

Social

Solitary

Aggression to own kind

Low

Active

Night

Reef safe

Yes

Invert safe

Yes

Shrimp safe

Yes

Clean-up role

Pest control

Population boom risk

Low

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Carnivore

Foods

Live

Breeding type

Broadcast spawner

Breeding difficulty

Moderate

Sexing

Simultaneous hermaphrodite; no external sexual dimorphism, any two adults can mate and lay eggs

Target feeding

Not needed

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Care guide

Overview

Hunts by night across live rock, tracking Aiptasia anemones by scent and retreating into crevices by day. This small cream-and-orange sea slug survives only where an active glassy anemone infestation exists, making pre-purchase confirmation essential. Populations decline naturally once prey is exhausted, requiring rehoming rather than target feeding.

Care

Berghia stephanieae is a small nocturnal sea slug kept exclusively to eradicate Aiptasia glass anemones in reef aquariums. It needs a mature, fully cycled, stable system with zero measurable ammonia, since it is sensitive to swings in water chemistry and to residues such as metal ions from salt spray on lighting equipment. Because it hides among rockwork by day and hunts at night, direct observation is limited to occasional glimpses unless a red light is used after dark. Once its food source is exhausted the population declines on its own, so ongoing care mainly consists of maintaining stable reef parameters rather than active feeding.

Feeding

Diet is restricted entirely to anemones of the genus Aiptasia, and adults can starve within days if none are available, so a tank must have an active infestation before purchase. They locate prey from a considerable distance across the rockwork and will migrate to it unassisted once released. If Aiptasia is eliminated before breeding produces a self-sustaining colony, remaining individuals should be rehomed to another aquarium with a food source rather than left to starve.

Tank mates

Best kept in reef systems without dedicated Aiptasia predators or omnivorous fish that may pick them off, such as wrasses, dottybacks, butterflyfish, or peppermint shrimp. They are otherwise harmless to corals, clams, fish, and other invertebrates, and do not sting or compete for space. Strong pump intakes and overflows are a hazard given their small size and slow movement, so these should be screened.

Breeding

Given a steady supply of Aiptasia, Berghia stephanieae will reproduce readily and can form a self-sustaining breeding colony within a reef tank. As simultaneous hermaphrodites, any two mature individuals can pair and lay coiled egg ribbons on the rockwork. Larvae pass through a planktonic stage before settling and metamorphosing over roughly two months, and captive culture of this species for the aquarium trade is well established.

Health

The species is delicate during shipping and acclimation, and exposure to bright aquarium lighting, infrared, or UV during transport can be lethal, so acclimation should be done in darkness or dim light. Pipetting or rough handling can strip the cerata, which the animal uses for both digestion and chemical defense against predators, weakening or killing it. Sudden salinity or temperature swings in the small volumes used for shipping and acclimation are a common cause of losses.

Sources

1. Berghia stephanieae - Wikipedia
2. Our Berghia stephanieae Nudibranchs and Reef Water Quality - The Berghia Farm
3. Frequently Asked Questions - The Berghia Farm
4. Aquarium Culture of the Aeolid nudibranch Berghia