Sea Hare Slug (Dolabella sp. / Aplysia sp.) Deploy the single most effective biological weapon against nuisance hair algae. The Sea Hare is a fascinating, heavily armored gastropod that functions like a high-powered lawnmower for your aquarium. While they may not win any traditional beauty pageants with their mottled, clay-like appearance and uniquely textured bodies, these peaceful invertebrates are prized globally for their unmatched, voracious appetite for invasive marine vegetation. When your clean-up crew snails and tangs fail to make a dent, a single Sea Hare can completely clear a heavily overgrown aquarium in a matter of days. Quick Care Specifications Care Level: Moderate Temperament: Peaceful Maximum Size: 6 to 8+ inches in captivity Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons (Must have significant algae growth) Reef Compatibility: 100% Reef-Safe (Completely safe for all corals, fish, and invertebrates) Water Parameters: 72–78°F, pH 8.1–8.4, dKH 8–12, Salinity 1.020–1.025 SG Key Features & Tank Requirements 🚜 Unmatched Algae Exterminator A specialized herbivore that targets and decimates problematic filamentous Green Hair Algae (GHA), bryopsis, macroalgae, and turf algae. They treat your live rock like an all-you-can-eat buffet, stripping rocks down to the bare surface. ⚠️ Starvation Warning (Crucial) Because they consume algae at an alarming rate, they can easily starve to death once the aquarium is entirely cleaned. Once your nuisance algae is gone, you must supplement their diet daily with dried seaweed (Nori) sheets weighted down on the sand bed, or pass the animal along to a fellow hobbyist in need. 🛡️ Powerhead & Wavemaker Safety Possesses soft, slow-moving bodies that are highly vulnerable to open pump intakes. It is mandatory to cover your wavemaker impellers and overflow drains with sponge guards or protective mesh netting to prevent this heavy grazer from getting trapped. 🦑 Chemical Defense (Purple Ink) If severely attacked, crushed by rockwork, or pulled into a pump, they can release a cloud of toxic dark purple ink as a defense mechanism. While rare, if your Sea Hare inks, immediately run high-quality activated carbon and execute a large water change to safeguard your tank. 🦐 Copper and Medication Sensitivity Like all invertebrates, Sea Hares have zero tolerance for copper-based medications, high nitrates, or sudden shifts in salinity. Always utilize a slow drip-acclimation method over 1 to 2 hours when introducing them to your system.
Related
Related
Related
Related