Can't Keep Sea Hares

li76 · 12/16/2015, 10:33 AM

About a month ago I picked up a sea hare and added him to my tank. I never saw him again. I read that they may hide during the day so I assumed he was behind the rocks. Saturday I bought another from a different LFS. He was dead on the sand by morning. I went back Sunday to the store and they agreed to replace it. They gave me one they had in their main display tank's refugium that they knew was very active. He was moving all around, mostly on the glass Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. This morning I found him dead. Fish are fine. Parameters are stable. The salinity from there tank to mine was 1.025 vs 1.024. I acclimated it for almost a hour. Bad luck or am I missing something?

primo21 · 12/16/2015, 11:20 AM

do they have anything to eat in your tank? almost entirely eat algae. wouldn't say they would die overnight because of it, do you have anything in the tank that would pick on it? what are the other tank inhabitants?

Jscwerve · 12/16/2015, 11:23 AM

Ever treated anything in your tank with copper?

li76 · 12/16/2015, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jscwerve

Ever treated anything in your tank with copper?

No.

li76 · 12/16/2015, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by primo21

do they have anything to eat in your tank? almost entirely eat algae. wouldn't say they would die overnight because of it, do you have anything in the tank that would pick on it? what are the other tank inhabitants?

Plenty of Algae. However, it does not seem possible he could have starved to death in 3 days.

Clarebearswears · 01/04/2016, 03:05 PM

Hi can you please help I think my sea hare is dead but I'm not sure he has gunk coming out of his front .

Pet Detective · 01/04/2016, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarebearswears

Hi can you please help I think my sea hare is dead but I'm not sure he has gunk coming out of his front .

Yes it's dead, get it out of there quickly, they release toxins after they die.
What most fish stores won't tell you is that Sea Hares are predominantly cold water critters, I have never had one live more than 2 weeks.

Bent · 01/04/2016, 05:20 PM

When u say sea hare I'm assuming you mean a dolabella.

1: Dolabellas are not toxic when they die. Just the decomposing material could spike nh3. Not even the ink they release is toxic.

2: yes they can starve to death in 3 days depending on their state when you got them.

3: when you say "plenty of algae", what kind? In my experience they are very picky and specialized. Some specimens will tear up hair algae, some film algae, some will chomp on macros, it seems very random as to what specific algae that an individual will eat. You have to actually witness the animal eating and then just keep supplying it with what it likes. Typically they find one thing to eat and will starve if not given it.

4: some will eat nori. Mine does.

5: the quickness of the deaths could be starvation, but more likely it's the water or the transfer stress. How old is this tank? Get a good Nitrate test (not API) and see what it is. Dolabellas can not tolerate even slightest traces of nitrates. How are you acclimating? Long drip acclimations are dangerous and will kill the animal. Match temp and salinity and transfer the animal. 30 minutes after the bag is opened is as long as you have before the shipped water becomes toxic.

Pet Detective · 01/04/2016, 05:33 PM

If Your Sea Hare Inks
Sea hares may emit a cloud of toxic ink if they're disturbed by you or a tank mate. This toxic substance can kill other animals in your aquarium, so if your sea hare inks you must clean out the ink immediately. Sea hares may also release their toxin when they die, so a deceased animal should also be removed as soon as possible. A high-powered charcoal filter is recommended to help clean up an ink mess quickly. If your sea hare inks, clean the carbon filter as soon as it's done removing the toxin from the water.

I don't know what kind the OP or others have, I just know that some are toxic, there at least 9 different types of sea hares.

heathlindner25 · 01/04/2016, 08:00 PM

You need to find out when your local fish store gets their shipments in and buy him the next day, they usually start pretty quickly in fish stores

12/16/2015, 10:33 AM	#1
li76 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Hauppauge, NY Posts: 19	Can't Keep Sea Hares About a month ago I picked up a sea hare and added him to my tank. I never saw him again. I read that they may hide during the day so I assumed he was behind the rocks. Saturday I bought another from a different LFS. He was dead on the sand by morning. I went back Sunday to the store and they agreed to replace it. They gave me one they had in their main display tank's refugium that they knew was very active. He was moving all around, mostly on the glass Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. This morning I found him dead. Fish are fine. Parameters are stable. The salinity from there tank to mine was 1.025 vs 1.024. I acclimated it for almost a hour. Bad luck or am I missing something?

01/04/2016, 05:20 PM	#8
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	When u say sea hare I'm assuming you mean a dolabella. 1: Dolabellas are not toxic when they die. Just the decomposing material could spike nh3. Not even the ink they release is toxic. 2: yes they can starve to death in 3 days depending on their state when you got them. 3: when you say "plenty of algae", what kind? In my experience they are very picky and specialized. Some specimens will tear up hair algae, some film algae, some will chomp on macros, it seems very random as to what specific algae that an individual will eat. You have to actually witness the animal eating and then just keep supplying it with what it likes. Typically they find one thing to eat and will starve if not given it. 4: some will eat nori. Mine does. 5: the quickness of the deaths could be starvation, but more likely it's the water or the transfer stress. How old is this tank? Get a good Nitrate test (not API) and see what it is. Dolabellas can not tolerate even slightest traces of nitrates. How are you acclimating? Long drip acclimations are dangerous and will kill the animal. Match temp and salinity and transfer the animal. 30 minutes after the bag is opened is as long as you have before the shipped water becomes toxic. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

12/16/2015, 11:20 AM	#2
primo21 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 219	do they have anything to eat in your tank? almost entirely eat algae. wouldn't say they would die overnight because of it, do you have anything in the tank that would pick on it? what are the other tank inhabitants?

12/16/2015, 11:23 AM	#3
Jscwerve Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 309	Ever treated anything in your tank with copper?

01/04/2016, 03:05 PM	#6
Clarebearswears Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 1	Hi can you please help I think my sea hare is dead but I'm not sure he has gunk coming out of his front .

01/04/2016, 05:33 PM	#9
Pet Detective Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 328	If Your Sea Hare Inks Sea hares may emit a cloud of toxic ink if they're disturbed by you or a tank mate. This toxic substance can kill other animals in your aquarium, so if your sea hare inks you must clean out the ink immediately. Sea hares may also release their toxin when they die, so a deceased animal should also be removed as soon as possible. A high-powered charcoal filter is recommended to help clean up an ink mess quickly. If your sea hare inks, clean the carbon filter as soon as it's done removing the toxin from the water. I don't know what kind the OP or others have, I just know that some are toxic, there at least 9 different types of sea hares.

01/04/2016, 08:00 PM	#10
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	You need to find out when your local fish store gets their shipments in and buy him the next day, they usually start pretty quickly in fish stores