Berghia Nudibranch - Aiptasia Eater

Berghia sp. - The Biota captive bred Berghia Nudibranch eats only pest Aiptasia anemones. This species is best for serious, heavy Aiptasia infestations in reef tanks. Berghia will not harm or eat any other species in your tank except Aiptasia. 

Important Acclimation Instructions

Please note: this product is exempt from our 7 day Livestock guarantee. It's normal for them to be shriveled up and lethargic on arrival. Check all the seams and lid, as Berghia are small and difficult to see. After acclimating and feeding in your tank they will "perk up." These animals tolerate shipping very well, and it's exceedingly rare for them to die in shipping. Please contact us immediately and provide a short video clip if you have concerns about the Berghia on arrival. Even if they appear to be DOA, please acclimate them, as it's normal for them to be lethargic during shipping. 

To acclimate Berghia to your tank's temperature, float the closed cup or bag in the tank for 15 minutes. Turn off the flow and lights in your tank. Don't touch them with your fingers, and please handle the cup or bag gently since they're susceptible to physical damage. Ideally, you should slowly submerge then wedge the open shipping cup or bag into the rockwork in a very low flow area and allow them to crawl out naturally. If you absolutely must move a Berghia, use a turkey baster/coral feeder type instrument. Keep the Berghia close to each other, as it's important that they're able to find each other and reproduce in your tank. Feed your fish while you introduce the Berghia to distract them. Do not place Berghia directly on or near Aiptasia, anemone, or coral which can sting or eat them, but a few inches away from Aiptasia so they can quickly find their important food source. Allow the Berghia to get a firm hold on the rock work before turning pumps back on. 

Ideally, you'd have at least one trio of Berghia for each 30 gallons of a heavily infested tank. They're most active at night, so it's unlikely you'll see them after you place them in your tank. After 2 - 3 months, you'll start to notice the Aiptasia are dwindling in numbers. 

Berghia incorporate the stinging cells into their own bodies from the Aiptasia they eat, which makes them unpalatable to most fish. However, any species that would eat an Aiptasia or other nudibranch or flatworm has the potential to eat the Berghia. Some species common in reef tanks that are not safe for Berghia such as some wrasses, butterflyfish, peppermint shrimp, cleaner shrimp, filefish, large crabs, some dottybacks, and fish that spend a lot of time pecking the rockwork, especially at night. 

Adult Berghia can succumb to starvation in a matter of days once they're no longer able to find Aiptasia, so if you wish to keep your culture going, you can culture Aiptasia and Berghia in separate aquariums.

Recommended Reading:

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/ac/feature/index.php

https://reefs.com/magazine/easy-berghia-nudibranch-propagation/