SEA HARE ?

[cafamore]

Saw one today at the lsf wanted to get it but no one knew anything about.

is it good in a reef tank
what are its enemys
what does it eat

all help is great

[duke12]

Sea hares have specific diets that include exotic sponges, etc. They will also be a pest and eat your corals. They usually die after a while too because of their specific diets. If no one knows about it, and you don't know about it, don't even think about it.

[dark horge]

Uhmm, I think this is why common names ought to be used with caution http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif Two parties can misunderstand one another.

I understand 'Sea Hares' to commercially mean mostly Aplysia spp. and sometimes Elysia spp., and if this is what's being inquired about, their diet is pretty much vegetarian. Herbivorous Sacoglossans (Lettuce slugs, etc) and Anaspideans (true Sea Hares) live briefly indeed (often a year or less), chow on algae, and are generally left alone by many fishes because they taste awful (or at least the defensive chemicals they can release does). However, some fellow slugs have evolved to prey on Sea Hares, and watching them tracking the unsuspecting victims (following the slime trail) relentlessly, and then slowly swallowing them whole... ugh, I prefer watching barracudas chase down sweepers.

***Other Ophistobranchs like the more popular Nudibranchs that I think duke is talking about (especially Doriid nudibranchs) can and do feast on sponges. All nudis are carnivores.***

In the end, the less colorful herbivorous slugs are fascinating in their own right --but they're far more common on the algae- and seagrass-rich nearshore than on the outer reef.

hth
horge
http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by dark horge (edited 02-01-2001).]

[cafamore]

HE WAS IN A TANK WITH ALL SOFT CORALS. THEY DID SAY IT EATS ALGAE AND FISH DO LEAVE IT ALONE SO ITS OK BUT NOT RECOMMENDED?

[dark horge]

Well, if you can verify that it is a Sacoglossan or Anaspidean and NOT a Nudibranch, then yes they are interesting to keep.

Most slugs live about a year or less, though one tropical Sea Hare, Dolabella auricularia, can live more than five years. Keep in mind that you're purchasing an animal that already has a few months under its belt, and figure out if the remaining months of its lifetime are worth the price the LFS wants you to pay.

Have fun http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

Dark Horge
(Dark means I'm Not Too Bright)

[This message has been edited by dark horge (edited 02-01-2001).]

[cafamore]

i picked him up for twenty i did some web searching and found out same info you folks did. i have 3 boys 10,9 and 5 and this is the best bio and chem classes they are ever going to have. they bring chairs in front of the tank and watch it for hours and ask questions. i wish i knew all the answers.

thanks for the help i will be asking more