Purple Caterpillar

What is this thing and is it safe to keep it in the tank. This is the first time I ever seen it.

 

Pictures kinda fuzzy. Is it segmented? Does it have an exoskeleton? Can your remove it to your sump or elsewhere until you get a positive i.d.?

 

It's not segmented but does move much like a caterpillar does on the live rock went back to look for but it is out of sight for know.

 

I was thinking - chiton....but those would be segmented...I believe..Hmmm..interesting..

See if you can get other pics of it. Is it soft, like a slug? Does it have 'feather antennae'?

 

It's probably some sort of flatworm and/or nudibranch. I wouldn't take any chances with it an confine it to a sump or refugium until I could i.d. it. Because there are so many varieties of flatworms and nudibranchs, getting a positive i.d. might prove difficult. Take a look at the species list here:

http://www.seaslugforum.net

 

LOL!!! That would take a month of sundays to go through!!!

 

"The body of a chiton is low and oval; it is covered dorsally by a slightly convex shell consisting of eight linearly arranged overlapping plates. The shell may be dull or brightly colored. Most of the lower surface consists of a broad, flat foot with which the chiton clings to hard surfaces, often so tightly that a sharp instrument is needed to pry it loose." from http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0811975.html It might be a chiton as BL said.. it disappeared as soon as the lights came on. Article sd it just feeds on algea at night seems harmless. Thanks for the input I will see if i could get better pics

 

But you said it was not segmented....that would rule out chitons...

I agree...we need more info! ;D

 

Tell me about it. I once tried to i.d. a nudibranch that I found in my tank. It was easier to just ditch the nudi

 

"It might be a chiton as BL said"

Well, that answers my exoskeleton question