Eliminating coral-eating nudibranchs with potassium permanganate.

 

An Effective Solution

Conclusions

     It was concluded that potassium permanganate concentrations of 50mg/L and higher are reliably effective in eliminating infestations of pest nudibranchs on Montipora corals. The tests showed that solutions at or above this level caused the death of both adult nudibranchs and their eggs. Colonies of M. digitata, M. capricornis, M. confusa, M. capitata, and one unidentified Montipora species were shown to have no lasting adverse effects to this treatment. By optimizing concentration and immersion time, it was concluded that immersion in a solution of 50mg/L KMnO₄ in synthetic seawater for 90 minutes is an effective treatment to eradicate pest nudibranchs.