Sea Hare and Ink

newsalt · #1 12/30/2007, 10:04 PM

I want to get a Sea Hare to help clear my tank of hair algea. I'm reluctant to do so because of the danger of the ink crashing my tank. Do all Sea Hares ink? Is there a type that does not yet and eats hair algea?

pagojoe · #2 12/31/2007, 12:59 AM

Hmmm, I don't have the wherewithal to give you a definitive answer from here, but I can give you my experience, and maybe someone else can give you some authoritative answers. All the Aplysia species I've dealt with would release ink, but I've had several Dolabrifera dolabrifera and a couple Dolabella auricularia and neither of those ever inked anything. They might not eat hair algae, though.

Cheers,

Don

reptilemanmark · #3 12/31/2007, 06:39 AM

I have a Blunt End Sea Hare and it eats hair algae like crazy. It never inked that I`ve noticed.

greenbean36191 · #4 12/31/2007, 09:00 AM

Yes, there are species of sea hare that don't ink. I couldn't tell you if any of them eat hair algae though. The two genera that I know to eat hair algae both ink. However, it's believed that all of them need red algae or cyanobacteria in their diets to produce the ink. Without it they can't replenish their ink and run out after 1-3 squirts. In any case, the ink won't crash your tank. It's just a cocktail of amino acids and is not toxic.

newsalt · #5 12/31/2007, 10:03 AM

I have a 6 line wrasse in my tank. Do you think it will harass the sea hare?

macronut · #6 12/31/2007, 10:00 PM

I have a sixline with a sea hare and have had no problems. The only problem I have with my sixline is that he sometimes takes a liking of going for the eyes of my masked gobies, (infrequently). I have had sixlines before, but this one has somewhat of an attitude, but no problems with the sea hare.

Dave1NC · #7 12/31/2007, 10:05 PM

I just took a Sea Hare out of my tank a few days ago for that exact reason. I place I got it from rented it to me for $10.00. Hair Algae gone! I also added a phosphate reactor to keep the hair away.

newsalt · #8 12/31/2007, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave1NC
I just took a Sea Hare out of my tank a few days ago for that exact reason.

Dave1NC:

When you say you took it out of your tank for the same reason, are you reffering to a hair algea problem or did you have a problem with a 6 line wrasse?