Naked Sea Butterfly - Newfoundland

I've finally found the creature that I've been searching for for so long! In 2004/2005 (I can't remember exactly), during the Summer months, I caught the most fascinating creature about 25ft from the beach shore in Eastern Newfoundland. It was a Sea Butterfly! I'm sure of it. They're temperate, too! Everything fits. Just thought I'd share. Now, I have a spare 10g tank... Do you think this space would be sufficient to house one? I've got several months to do my research on the creatures (and on tankmates, salinity, temperature, water quality, habitat, the number that should be housed together, etc.), but would like to know if I actually have the space to house one first.

Thanks so much,

Brent

Well I personally know very little about them, And, What I do know about them isnt helpful or really related to this in anyway. All I can say is good luck and I hope you get to keep one.

^same here. goodl uck. You can be the first to experiment with it. Because as of now I didnt even know there was such a thing as a sea butterfly.

Thanks for the luck, guys. (:

What I've found out so far is no less than disheartening. They're planktonic members of the jellyfish family... However if I can just duplicate their natural habitat (though I'll need more than a 10g) I should be fine. The biggest problems are probably going to be water quality, space and feeding. But I'm determined!

The key to success, in the aquatic world that is, is research. Hopefully I'll be ready by Summer. For now I'll just have to be happy with my pet Sea Butterfly on Animal Crossing. xD


All the best,

Brent.

How big do you need? YOU CAUGHT MY INTEREST!!! DETAILS!!!

oh wait, I do have experience with jellyfish so. First of all, you will need a tank cylindrical tank with no right angles. Also you can use no decor except for maybe a few rounded stones. They will get stuck in the corners or cut themselves on the sides. No lie. They will need to be fed phytoplankton once or twice per day. Most likely will need them live.They will have to have a large filtration system with a skimmer. Also many things in that family contain zooxanthellae. So do some research cause you might need some strong lighting. I hate to tell you but it will be a lot of work (mostly for feeding), and a lot of money.
I know this from jellyfish. Also if you neede live food you will have to buy a plankton reactor.
Good luck though

Wow, i'm glad you found out what they were. You would definitely need a seeded tank before getting one though.

I'd go with a 55g for a three.

They aren't quite like that, Rambo. They do have tentacles, but not as such a jellyfish would, and do have fins. In fact, they look 110% different from jellyfish. You are right about needing to feed phytoplankton and about the filtration. Unfortunately you are also right about another thing: it will be difficult and expensive... But not impossible!

I know I'll need a seeded tank, but I'm not even sure I can accomplish the feeding requirements. I don't know where to get live phytoplankton... Does anyone here know?

Thanks, Brent.

As a side note: it is not only phytoplankton that they eat. They eat several different things- when young they will survive mostly on plankton and other small life forms, but as adults will prey upon copepods. In the wild adults also prey upon limacina helicina, and I am at a loss as to what to feed as a replacement of this.

They are actually more closely related to the molluscs / gastropods than they are jellyfish... I actually don't think they are related to jellyfish at all. False information is everywhere... e.e

I'm not sure how to better word this graphic information, so here it is, directly from the internet:

"The feeding process of Clione limacina is somewhat extraordinary. The buccal apparatus consists of three pairs of buccal cones. These tentacles grab the shell of Limacina helicina. When the prey is in the right position, with its shell opening facing the radula of Clione limacina, it then grasps the prey with its chitinous hooks, everted from hook sacs. Then it extracts the body completely out of its shell and swallows it whole."

Blech.

It also eats Spiratella.

Wow...Lot of information in a short time.

xD Yeah. Well, things just keep getting more difficult with the more I find out. Everything seems pretty straightforward except for feeding. Seeing as I doubt anyone else has attempted to keep them in an aquarium setting, I don't know what to supplement. I'm thinking most of the trace elements needed will be the same as other pelagic gastropods, and sea slugs in general.

Sounds like you've done your research. Hey so i noticed you go the link part down for the images. Now all you have to do is put the link in the

Code:

[img] [/img]

tag .

I see you've done it for me... x]

So far I'll be dosing: Molybdenum. It is vital to many invertebrates, filter bacteria, etc. so I wouldn't want to chance not dosing it. I'll also be dosing Strontium, as I will be putting a few small hardy corals in the tank (pelagic or not, I want the tank to look good). Buffer to keep PH stable. Calcium and Magnesium for the corals. Planktonic Suspension for the NSB.

I think that should be good.

Good god at this rate why dont you just set up a self sustaining tank?

Check Jon Olavs blog for phytoplankton. He did a experiment with that.

Bluntokian wrote:Good god at this rate why dont you just set up a self sustaining tank?

What..?

--

Okay PF, I'll look into it.

Yep.

Basically a tank where all you have to do is cut the light off & on every day.

I know what it is... I just don't understand the relevance to my "...rate."

With everything youll have to suppliment + tank size etc.

I see, I see. Well, I would, but I think any small crustacians would be eaten so that renders the idea of a self sustaining tank impossible. Prey would run out.

Does anyone understand the concept of reverse osmosis (RO)? Do you guys use it for your marine tanks?