Lettuce Sea Slug*

Elysia crispata is known in the hobby as Lettuce Nudibranchs and Lettuce Sea Slugs. They are sarcoglassans, a type of slug that sucks the chlorophyll out of algae and uses it to achieve their attractive green color. This species is also able to use the chlorophyll to create sugar from solar energy just like plants do. This process is called kleptoplasty, and gives them their final common name of Solar Slugs. For their size they consume more algae than similarly sized snails and hermit crabs most of the time, but can also rely on photosynthesis at other times making them less effective cleaners. Sea slugs have particular care requirements that make them unsuitable for most reef tanks. They are prone to gathering at drains and intakes. Because of this, powerheads with easy to access impellers pose a danger to them. Maxi Jet style powerheads, with an extended arm and fine strainer are better suited for them. Similarly, wide overflow slots and drains without somewhat fine mesh are likely to be traps for the sea slug. They do not mind high flow levels, but high velocity will often send them adrift, and it is stressful to them. They are non-toxic, but do utilize chemicals from the algae they consume to make them unpalatable to most fish species.

This species requires UPS Next Day Air or Express Mail and does not qualify for free shipping.