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07-27-2005, 06:47 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tampa, FL,Florida Age: 34
Posts: 293
Karma: 153
  
|  Purple Caterpillar
What is this thing and is it safe to keep it in the tank. This is the first time I ever seen it. _________ "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing"
Albert Einstein
125 G reef ready. 3 175W MH XM 15K bulbs two VHO 10000k, Berlin turbo skimmer, 18W turbo twist UV, DIY Refugium and sump, Little Giant 3-MDQX-SC, 3 MAXIJET 1200 with mod kit and 1 900gph. 1/3 horse chiller, I have a false yellow, damsel, percula clown, Mushrooms and a bubble tip anenome and Live Rock | 
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07-27-2005, 06:51 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 38
Posts: 6,348
 
| Re: Purple Caterpillar
Pictures kinda fuzzy. Is it segmented? Does it have an exoskeleton? Can your remove it to your sump or elsewhere until you get a positive i.d.? | |
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07-27-2005, 06:58 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tampa, FL,Florida Age: 34
Posts: 293
Karma: 153
| Re: Purple Caterpillar
It's not segmented but does move much like a caterpillar does on the live rock went back to look for but it is out of sight for know. | |
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07-27-2005, 07:08 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Whip-Lash Squid
Join Date: May 2004 Location: PhillySuburbs, Pennsylvania Age: 42
Posts: 2,947
| Re: Purple Caterpillar
I was thinking - chiton....but those would be segmented...I believe..Hmmm..interesting..
See if you can get other pics of it. Is it soft, like a slug? Does it have 'feather antennae'? _________  I Love My Sig By John Hawkins!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date Started 9/04 58 gallon Oceanic Tank, 20 gal DIY sump/fuge w/ Kent Marine Auto top-off, Air Water Ice RO/DI, 10,000 K 175 W MH, 2 VHO 03's 96W each, AquaC EV 120 Skimmer
80 lbs LR, DSB in FUGE, 1 - 2 " LS in tank
Black Brittle Star, Chevron Tang, Crocea Clam, red & green Lobophyllia, Frogspawn, Porites Frag, Caulastrea Frag, Green Ricordia, Asst. Zoas, hermits, astreas, stomatellas, fighting conch  | |
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07-27-2005, 07:18 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 38
Posts: 6,348
| Re: Purple Caterpillar
It's probably some sort of flatworm and/or nudibranch. I wouldn't take any chances with it an confine it to a sump or refugium until I could i.d. it. Because there are so many varieties of flatworms and nudibranchs, getting a positive i.d. might prove difficult. Take a look at the species list here: http://www.seaslugforum.net | |
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07-27-2005, 07:24 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Whip-Lash Squid
Join Date: May 2004 Location: PhillySuburbs, Pennsylvania Age: 42
Posts: 2,947
| Re: Purple Caterpillar
 LOL!!! That would take a month of sundays to go through!!! | |
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07-27-2005, 07:42 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tampa, FL,Florida Age: 34
Posts: 293
Karma: 153
| Re: Purple Caterpillar
"The body of a chiton is low and oval; it is covered dorsally by a slightly convex shell consisting of eight linearly arranged overlapping plates. The shell may be dull or brightly colored. Most of the lower surface consists of a broad, flat foot with which the chiton clings to hard surfaces, often so tightly that a sharp instrument is needed to pry it loose." from http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0811975.html It might be a chiton as BL said.. it disappeared as soon as the lights came on. Article sd it just feeds on algea at night seems harmless. Thanks for the input I will see if i could get better pics | |
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07-27-2005, 08:07 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Whip-Lash Squid
Join Date: May 2004 Location: PhillySuburbs, Pennsylvania Age: 42
Posts: 2,947
| Re: Purple Caterpillar
But you said it was not segmented....that would rule out chitons...
I agree...we need more info! | |
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07-27-2005, 08:30 AM
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#9 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 38
Posts: 6,348
| Re: Purple Caterpillar
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Birdlady LOL!!! That would take a month of sundays to go through!!! | Tell me about it. I once tried to i.d. a nudibranch that I found in my tank. It was easier to just ditch the nudi  | |
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07-27-2005, 08:34 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 38
Posts: 6,348
| Re: Purple Caterpillar
"It might be a chiton as BL said"
Well, that answers my exoskeleton question | |
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