Lettuce Sea Slug
(Elysia crispata)

Descrição

Elysia crispata: Your Vibrant Lettuce Sea Slug

Add a splash of living art to your marine aquarium with the captivating Lettuce Sea Slug! This unique invertebrate brings both beauty and a fascinating biological wonder.

Overview

The Lettuce Sea Slug, *Elysia crispata*, is a truly unique marine gastropod known for its striking, frilly parapodia that resemble a head of lettuce. While typically vibrant green, coloration can vary from blues to pale hues with red or yellow accents. These peaceful “solar slugs” are sacoglossans, capable of kleptoplasty – absorbing chloroplasts from their diet to perform photosynthesis, effectively utilizing sunlight as an additional energy source.

Care Level

Considered an intermediate-level invertebrate, the Lettuce Sea Slug is generally peaceful and compatible with most reef and community tank inhabitants. They are more robust than many true nudibranchs but require stable water parameters and careful acclimation due to their sensitivity to salinity changes. Avoid aggressive tank mates.

Tank Essentials

A minimum tank size of 115 litres is recommended to provide ample space and suitable food sources. Maintain stable water parameters with a pH range of 8.0-8.4 and a temperature of 22-26°C. While they appreciate moderate water flow, ensure powerheads and drains are properly screened to prevent accidental ingestion.

Diet

As a specialized herbivore, *Elysia crispata* primarily feeds on the cell sap of various green macroalgae, including specific *Caulerpa*, *Halimeda*, and *Bryopsis* species. While they can photosynthesize, this isn’t a complete food source; a consistent supply of their preferred algae is crucial for their long-term health.

Why Buy From Us

When you buy Lettuce Sea Slug online from us, you receive healthy aquarium fish and invertebrates ethically sourced and meticulously cared for. We prioritize responsible acclimation and humane shipping practices, ensuring your new additions arrive in prime condition to thrive in your marine ecosystem.

• Scientific Name: Elysia crispata
• Common Name / Variant: Lettuce Sea Slug
• Maximum Size: 5 cm
• Origin: Western Atlantic, Caribbean
• pH Range: 8.0–8.4
• Temperature: 22–26°C
• Lifespan: Up to 2 years (typically shorter in aquaria)
• Swimming Zone: Bottom/Mid

Add this extraordinary algae eater for reef tank environments to your cart today!