Berghia nudibranchs for Aiptasia

Quick reference

What are Berghia nudibranchs?

Berghia stephanieae is an aeolid sea slug that feeds only on Aiptasia anemones, which is what made it the reef hobby's favourite biological control and a standard lab animal: it's easy to culture on Aiptasia.^[3] Older papers and many vendors call it Berghia verrucicornis.^{[3, 2]} LiveAquaria describes it as very small (10–14 mm) and nocturnal, and notes it can take months to build a colony large enough to make a difference.^[2]

Feeding

Aiptasia only.^[3] Juveniles must start eating within 3–4 days of hatching and can only handle small prey, and the quality of the Aiptasia matters: pigmented, symbiotic anemones produced faster growth and better eggs than bleached ones.^[3] Without Aiptasia, Berghia starve to death over days to weeks, which is why infestations can return after an apparent win.^{[3, 1]}

Aggression and spacing

None.

Tankmates

Reef safe: they ignore corals and everything else.^[3] LiveAquaria warns they're hard to find and keep alive in an aquarium, so check that nothing in the tank eats small slugs before you buy.^[2] Peppermint shrimp, filefish and copperband butterflyfish are the other livestock options for Aiptasia, each with its own risks.^{[1, 2]}

Disease and quarantine

Starvation is the main cause of death once their food runs out.^[3] If you want to keep a colony, it needs its own supply of Aiptasia: Reefs.com notes that labs and breeders keep feeder Aiptasia cultures for exactly this reason.^[3]

Breeding

Berghia are hermaphrodites. Adults lay white spiral egg masses of 60 to 2,000 eggs; hatching takes about 11–12 days at 23.9 °C in one study but 55–60 days at 22 °C in another, and eggs can hatch as swimming larvae or as crawling juveniles depending on the parents' nutrition.^[3] They reach breeding age about 40–50 days after hatching.^[3]

Troubleshooting

Common mistakes

• •Expecting results in days.^[2]
• •Adding them to a tank with predators of small slugs.^[2]
• •Assuming a cleared tank stays clear.^{[3, 1]}

Equipment & food for this species

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Inverts need stable salinity — use a refractometer, not a hydrometer.

Berghia nudibranch FAQ

Do Berghia nudibranchs eat anything besides Aiptasia?

No. They feed only on Aiptasia and starve over days to weeks without it.^[3]

How long do Berghia take to clear Aiptasia?

Months, often: LiveAquaria says it can take months to build a colony, though it can reduce Aiptasia significantly or entirely over time.^[2]

What happens to Berghia when the Aiptasia are gone?

They starve. Bulk Reef Supply says they run out of food and won't survive.^[1]

How big are Berghia nudibranchs?

Very small: about 10–14 mm, according to LiveAquaria.^[2]

Are Berghia better than peppermint shrimp?

Bulk Reef Supply calls Berghia the most effective livestock option; peppermint shrimp eat Aiptasia less reliably and may also eat coral polyps.^[1]