Chromodoris willani laying eggs

November 12, 2001
From: Nick Gill

Dear Dr. Rudman,
I have had a Chromodoris willani which is about an inch long for 2 weeks. It is currently in my quiet reef tank, and does not seem unduly stressed. A while ago, I saw it crawling on an aquarium pump. When I took a closer look, I noticed it was laying powdery eggs. They were lying flat on the surface of the pump. The white egg mass was laid in a spiraling line.

My apologies for not being able to provide a picture. I would like to know what could possibly have triggered it to lay eggs. Will they hatch?

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

Nick Gill

hongqixian@hotmail.com

Gill, N., 2001 (Nov 12) Chromodoris willani laying eggs. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5609

Dear Nick,
I'm sorry you can't provide a photo because this may be the first observation of its egg ribbon. Firstly, are you sure of your identification of the slug as C. willani. One way to check its not the similar looking Chromodoris lochi is to see if it has white spots on the gills and rhinophores [see photos at top of this page]. Secondly, when you describe the egg ribbon as 'lying flat' are you describing an egg ribbon like the ones on the 'flat egg-ribbon' page rather than the more typical egg ribbon which is flattened but attached along one edge [see Mike Miller's photo].

Now the bad news. Nudibranchs under stress often start laying eggs. It is nice to think that this is nature's way of helping the species survive but it is equally likely that as the body's equilibrium begins to break down strange things happen. Sometimes the eggs seem to be produced intact and fertilised but often the 'egg ribbon' has no eggs in it, and sometimes the yolk is there as long thin smears or ribbons. I suspect your slug is telling you it is not very happy. I would be grateful for some feedback on the questions I have asked about the egg ribbon and the slug's identity.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Nov 12). Comment on Chromodoris willani laying eggs by Nick Gill. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5609

Factsheet

Chromodoris willani

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