Sea hare- any advice- (long)

[mcbdz]

Does anyone have experience with sea hares behavior? I tried one awhile back since a fellow reefer needed to rehome it. Had been out of hair algae for awhile and, it never ate any once I put it in my tank. It crawled across the sand from one side to the other and slowly died over a week and a half. I was assuming I got it too late and
, it had gone too long without food. So now that it has been a couple months thought I'd try again and ordered one this time. Made sure I drip acclimated for over 2 hours and placed it on rocks after lights out. Next morning he was grazing rocks, could see it's clean trail and through morning he cleaned all that part of rock then moved off to the sandbed,. Slowly cruised all day accross to class, around the one pile of rocks, then to the back glass. Noticed him behind the middle rock island at bedtime last night. This morning noticed him at back glass not moving but just there, now an hour later he has buried in the sand? Is this normal behavior. I had assumed it would graze the rocks til they were clean? Anyone have one bury in sandbed? Hoping this is not a bad sign. I will not try again if something happens but, It really upsets me to loss an animal in the first place. Hoping it is just acclimating.

 

[mcbdz]

Well, good news. It's back out and moving around.

 

[PatW]

I have never kept sea hares. From something I have read, they do like eating. If you think your hare is not getting enough, you might try putting an algae clip with some nori in the sea hare’s hurting grounds. I find that my turbo snails really like nori (not that I feed it to them) and I bet most marine herbivores will take it.

 

[mcbdz]

I have never kept sea hares. From something I have read, they do like eating. If you think your hare is not getting enough, you might try putting an algae clip with some nori in the sea hare’s hurting grounds. I find that my turbo snails really like nori (not that I feed it to them) and I bet most marine herbivores will take it.

I have plenty for it to eat. Just not sure what was normal behavior. Didn't realize the wold bury in the sand.

 

[t5Nitro]

I've never kept one. Can I ask where you ordered from? Potentially looking to add one to my tank.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

Sea hares naturally bury in the sand at night or when they are inactive. I've kept two, and still have one of them, I would say the behavior you are seeing is completely healthy. If he ever buries for an extended (3+ days) amount of time or seems to be more "sluggish" than usual, he may be sick. But for now he seems to be doing awesome!

 

[Big C]

Similar experience here. Had one for months and would cruise the tank (but didn’t eat much of my ulva problem). Last week started to notice him burying himself in the sand. Next day he pops out.

Glad to here it’s normal.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Sea hares especially dolabella will burrow and even park itself along the top rim of tank.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I’ve had two, and staying semi-stationary or burying is normal; however I have found them to be short-lived. I have heard the same from others. Very cool creatures, however. Can clean glass like nobody’s business.

 

[t5Nitro]

Is it reasonable to add one to a bare bottom tank? Not sure if they needed a sandbed to go sleep.

 

[JumboShrimp]

My guess— a sandbed would not be a “need” any more than it would be for a snail.

 

[sfin52]

Sea hares are hermaphrodites they are unable to fertilize own eggs. They look like cooked green spaghetti noodles. They burrow under thr sand or hind amongst rocks. They can be really hard to find. For that reason any rock change you must account for the sea hare before moving rocks

If they ink in your tank it isn't toxic. It will turn the water purple. A good skimmer will make short work of it.

They need lots of algea. They are always grazing. Most starve in tanks reason for short lives. I jad one for almost 2 years. The next died shortly after I got. Another was crushed by not accounting for it. The one I have now had been in my tank since February.

 

[mcbdz]

I've never kept one. Can I ask where you ordered from? Potentially looking to add one to my tank.

Have a local reefer friend that ordered it for me. We live in Shreveport, LA area.

 

[kenand]

Does anyone have experience with sea hares behavior? I tried one awhile back since a fellow reefer needed to rehome it. Had been out of hair algae for awhile and, it never ate any once I put it in my tank. It crawled across the sand from one side to the other and slowly died over a week and a half. I was assuming I got it too late and
, it had gone too long without food. So now that it has been a couple months thought I'd try again and ordered one this time. Made sure I drip acclimated for over 2 hours and placed it on rocks after lights out. Next morning he was grazing rocks, could see it's clean trail and through morning he cleaned all that part of rock then moved off to the sandbed,. Slowly cruised all day accross to class, around the one pile of rocks, then to the back glass. Noticed him behind the middle rock island at bedtime last night. This morning noticed him at back glass not moving but just there, now an hour later he has buried in the sand? Is this normal behavior. I had assumed it would graze the rocks til they were clean? Anyone have one bury in sandbed? Hoping this is not a bad sign. I will not try again if something happens but, It really upsets me to loss an animal in the first place. Hoping it is just acclimating.

I just bought one 2 days ago. It comes in and out if the sand. How's your doing?