What does Berthellina engeli eat?

November 1, 2000
From: Jennifer Whitacre

I work at Inland Aquatics, and our last order of "Lettuce Slugs" turned out to be six Berthellina. After finding pictures of several different types, I am led to believe they are Berthellina engeli.
The image that most closely resembles our two survivors is online at:
http://www.medslugs.de/E/E-Atlantic/Berthellina_engeli.htm

I am mostly interested in finding out what to feed my lovely orange friends. The first four died within 24 hours of arrival, and the remaining two have been here for nearly two weeks.

I Appreciate Your Time.
Jennifer Whitacre

whitacrej@yahoo.com

Whitacre , J., 2000 (Nov 1) What does Berthellina engeli eat?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3271

Note: See Lucas Cervera's message suggesting that Berthellina quadridens is the correct name for Caribbean specimens, and second message suggesting that east Pacific animals were B. ilisima

Dear Jennifer,
If your animals are a species of Berthellina then there have been various reports suggesting that most species feed on a fairly wide variety of sponges. The common Indo-West Pacific species Berthellina citrina has also been reported by Scott Johnson to feed on some corals, and in particular Tubastrea in Hawaii. B. quadridens has been reported to feed on sea anemones, but I can't find any information on the food of B. engeli.

Unfortunately sponges as the most likely food is not good news because they are not that easy to keep in aquaria, and they are quite difficult to identify. Perhaps it would be worth experimenting with sea anemones.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Nov 1). Comment on What does Berthellina engeli eat? by Jennifer Whitacre . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3271

Factsheet

Berthellina quadridens

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