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  #1  
Old 01/06/2008, 11:00 AM
newsalt newsalt is offline
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Sea Hare

I just got a spotted sea hare to help out with a hair algea problem. It's been in my talk for about 24 hours. Since I introduced it into the tank, I've hardly seen it move at all. At one point, I touched it with the handle of a net and it moved around a little, but that was it. This morning, it seemed to have turned itself around overnight, but still in the same corner of the tank. It's not making any attempt to go after the algea. I'm wondering if there's a problem with it or is this normal right after it's placed in a tank. Any advice?
  #2  
Old 01/06/2008, 11:10 AM
yrema yrema is offline
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from my experience sea hares move a lot, especially at night. how long have you acclimated your seahare, and do you notice any weird behavior? (such as rolling over or stiffening?)

hth
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  #3  
Old 01/06/2008, 11:17 AM
newsalt newsalt is offline
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I aclimated it for about an hour and a half. Only strange thing I noticed was it would bury its head in the sand.
  #4  
Old 01/06/2008, 11:27 AM
yrema yrema is offline
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mine did that before too, but only on cyano-ridden sand. just be on the look out in case it still refuse to eat.
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cheers,
Marty

Less is more, more or less. :p
  #5  
Old 01/06/2008, 11:42 AM
uscharalph uscharalph is offline
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IME give it a couple of days. The one I had got sucked into a powerhead. It didn't do anything for HA, but then it only lasted 4 days. I've had better luck with HA with a tuxedo urchin.
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  #6  
Old 01/06/2008, 01:48 PM
BigAl2007 BigAl2007 is offline
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I've had Sea Hare's for a good while. Every once in a while they don't make it long term but for the most part they are easy to care for and they are PHENOMINCAL Hair Algae eaters. They literally go through a patch of HA like a lawn mower. I have pictures I can show of before, during and after a Sea Hair went through a patch in my 12g Nano Cube. The only draw back is... "What goes in MUST come out!" They poop a LOT!

My sea hare will go almost "dormant" for a couple of days. Looking lifeless and motionless for days. The one way you CAN tell is to "gently" roll it over onto it's back. If it doesn't roll over in about 10 minutes get it out. When it's in the air if it still doesn't move it's DOA!

My sea hare is pretty old and I "pimp it out" to local reefers. I'd hate to try and think of how many tanks it's been in and cleaned up.

good luck
  #7  
Old 01/06/2008, 02:34 PM
am3gross am3gross is offline
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i have heard that once they die if you dont get it out it will cause the tank to crash. these things are toxic to to tank once they die. after it eats all the hair algae i would either pimp it out or take it back to the store, just my opionion.
  #8  
Old 01/06/2008, 02:54 PM
boxfishpooalot boxfishpooalot is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by BigAl2007
I've had Sea Hare's for a good while. Every once in a while they don't make it long term but for the most part they are easy to care for and they are PHENOMINCAL Hair Algae eaters. They literally go through a patch of HA like a lawn mower. I have pictures I can show of before, during and after a Sea Hair went through a patch in my 12g Nano Cube. The only draw back is... "What goes in MUST come out!" They poop a LOT!

My sea hare will go almost "dormant" for a couple of days. Looking lifeless and motionless for days. The one way you CAN tell is to "gently" roll it over onto it's back. If it doesn't roll over in about 10 minutes get it out. When it's in the air if it still doesn't move it's DOA!

My sea hare is pretty old and I "pimp it out" to local reefers. I'd hate to try and think of how many tanks it's been in and cleaned up.

good luck
Really interested to see some before and after pics! I was thinkin of getting one some day and breeding them~!

Also was thinking of getting some mollies to see what they do with micro algae issues!
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  #9  
Old 01/06/2008, 09:12 PM
greenbean36191 greenbean36191 is offline
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Quote:
these things are toxic to to tank once they die.
No more toxic than any other large dead animal.
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  #10  
Old 01/06/2008, 10:02 PM
newsalt newsalt is offline
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Well, it's moved somewhere. It's no longer in the one corner of the tank. I'm guessing it's somewhere in the back of the tank. Hopefully munching on hair algea.
  #11  
Old 01/06/2008, 10:30 PM
vickreyreef vickreyreef is offline
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i put one in my tank and it went to the back and I never saw it again.....but I *still* have HA so I think he kicked the bucket and never took down any HA during his stay ...LOL....
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  #12  
Old 01/07/2008, 10:46 PM
newsalt newsalt is offline
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I just saw it again. It crawl around to the front on some LR. Maybe it's doing ok.
  #13  
Old 01/07/2008, 11:51 PM
ppp ppp is offline
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I've had a few of these, they do a great job when thy're alive, but I never had one last more than a few weeks. Maybe I'll try that urchin next.
  #14  
Old 01/08/2008, 12:52 AM
jab502 jab502 is offline
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They are definitely hair algae eating machines. The only down side is that it can take them a long time to find the hair algae depending on the size of your tank. Mine will also lie dormant for a few days and then start making the rounds again. If you want to speed the process up, you can literally pick him up and stick his mouth on the patch you want him to eat. Just place him on the patch and give him a few seconds to attach his body and he will go to work. After a few minutes move him around to the other problem areas.
 

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