TankBud

Berghia nudibranch

Berghia stephanieae

Also known as Aiptasia Eating Nudibranch, Berghia Sea Slug, Aeolidiella stephanieae, Aiptasia Nudibranch

SaltwaterInvertebrate

Berghia nudibranch (Berghia stephanieae)
Jessica A. Goodheart, Adam L. Bazinet, Allen G. Collins, Michael P. Cummings · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
0.8 in
2 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
20 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Easy
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Aeolidiidae
Origin
Western Atlantic and Caribbean, on shallow reef and rubble where Aiptasia anemones grow.

Overview

Add several to a tank of any size, even a 20 litre nano, at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 to wipe out an Aiptasia outbreak over a few weeks. They need no feeding beyond the pest anemones, but you must remove them or let them decline once the Aiptasia is gone. Keep them clear of strong pump intakes and out of tanks with peppermint shrimp or wrasses that may eat them.

In the wild

The berghia is a small white to cream aeolid nudibranch with feathery back appendages called cerata. It is kept for one job, which is eating the pest anemone Aiptasia. It grows to about 2 cm and drifts over the rock at night hunting anemones.

Good to know

Berghia stephanieae, once sold under the name Aeolidiella stephanieae, feeds only on Aiptasia and starves once they run out. It stores stinging cells from its prey inside its cerata and can even keep some working algal chloroplasts there.

Did you know

They breed so readily in captivity that hobbyists raise and sell them in batches, and a small group can clear a badly infested tank on its own.

Common questions

What size tank does a Berghia nudibranch need?

A Berghia nudibranch needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Berghia nudibranch need?

A Berghia nudibranch is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

How big does a Berghia nudibranch get?

An adult Berghia nudibranch reaches about 0.8 in (2 cm).

Related species