Emerald525 Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 We had a serious hair algae problem in the new FOWLR tank. I mean serious! It looked like Oscar the Grouch had drowned in our tank! So we got this sea hare and it cleaned it all up in no time flat! Amazing!(clap) My question now is I hear these guys can do poorly and starve now that most of the hair algae is gone. Is this true? Should I pass him along to someone else with a hair algae problem? He's so ugly but cool so I would like to keep him but I don't want him to starve to death either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytshall Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 sea hare I had heard the same thing and that they would die and lay eggs. I have had a sea hare in the tank for 8 months now and I never had a hair algae problem. Just 2 rocks that I put in had some on it. Other than that he just goes around the tank eating any algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 I've lost a couple after they lay their eggs. It takes a lot of food to keep one alive for an extended period of time. I would pass it on if you think he may starve. Share the love? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 "Hare the love" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltfinsax Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 How long did it take to clean the tank. My 20g frag tank needs a cleaning if he is hungry. I would think he would need a new place after a couple weeks though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 My sea hair lived for a year, the hair algae would come back and he would find it. Eventually he found his fate with the intake to the protein skimmer :-( So sad i almost cried, i loved that little guy. I never saw him eat anything but hair algae though, so if its all gone he most likely will starve (eventually...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted April 14, 2010 Author Share Posted April 14, 2010 How long did it take to clean the tank. My 20g frag tank needs a cleaning if he is hungry. I would think he would need a new place after a couple weeks though. He cleaned an 150 gallon tank in less than a week. His belly is nice and full! 20g would take less than a day with this guy. I will see how it goes with the hair algae and if it's gone then I will definitely "Hare the love" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr S Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 I have had one in a 40g for over 2 months with never any trace of hair algae. It is doing fine just eating algae of the walls of the tank. It is big and happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScuito Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I have an unidentified one that is fully jet black and he also loves algae he has been in the tank a couple years as far as I know the guy I bought thr tank from didnt know where he came from he just appeared and has been there a long time if anybody knows what he is and where to get another please let me know here are a few pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 he looks like a nudi(the good kind probably) not a sea hare. Kinda hard to tell, but they due have black sea hares with metallic blue spots. They are considerably smaller then the BBT's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I have an unidentified one that is fully jet black and he also loves algae he has been in the tank a couple years as far as I know the guy I bought thr tank from didnt know where he came from he just appeared and has been there a long time if anybody knows what he is and where to get another please let me know here are a few pics That looks like either a chiton or a limpit to me. Under the "skin" (mantle) is there a hard shell? If you poke it does it seem hard or soft? If it is hard, is there only one shell with a hole in the top like a volcano, or is it more like several (usually 8) different, overlaping plates. If it is only one shell, then it is a limpit, if it has 8 overlaping plates then it is a chiton. There may be some other options, but it is not a sea hare, and it is not a nudibranch, dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScuito Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 This guy/gal is ALL JET BLACK and I think it is a nudi I really want another 1-2 he is great. My mother has brought me totally coverd (in hair) coral and this guy has them back to former glory the very next morning. Even cleans aptasia (as if I care) without spreading them. Thought he was gonna eat it the first time I saw it but no just plowed him over like he does to coral (without disturbance) within 2-3 minutes clean as a whistle. I have scoured the net looking for an ID or a seller for about 3 months and no luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScuito Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 That looks like either a chiton or a limpit to me. Under the "skin" (mantle) is there a hard shell? If you poke it does it seem hard or soft? If it is hard, is there only one shell with a hole in the top like a volcano, or is it more like several (usually 8) different, overlaping plates. If it is only one shell, then it is a limpit, if it has 8 overlaping plates then it is a chiton. There may be some other options, but it is not a sea hare, and it is not a nudibranch It has soft skin that covers a hard body and when its at rest its back opens up and its shows the hard bone color underneth (lungs?) also its frilly about the edges and has somewhat frilly anttenae and moves about like a slug or snail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Try with some nori. If it does not work try caulerpa. I'm sure you can find some for free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScuito Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 also mostly nocturnal so hard to get pics of I was lucky to get those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 It has soft skin that covers a hard body and when its at rest its back opens up and its shows the hard bone color underneth (lungs?) also its frilly about the edges and has somewhat frilly anttenae and moves about like a slug or snail I am leaning towards the chiton option. If it has a shell then it is not a nudibranch (naked lung in latin). The black flesh is called a mantle and it helps protect and creates the shells (not lungs) on the back. They are closely related to slugs and snails so they look like them. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 What about some form of limpet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC-k3v Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 There are some pretty big ones out here in Hawaii. I've seen them in the tide pools at night up to 10-12" long. The ones here ink like an octopus, but it is blood red. They are very good at tank clean up. I've yet to see one small enough to collect and sell. Most are way too big for anyone to want. AC-Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 well I have some hair he could eat if you want to lend it out to get it more food...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScuito Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I found it http://www.masa.asn.au/masawiki/index.php/File:Dendrodoris_nigra_03.jpg but now where do I find another Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScuito Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I was almost convinced in the chiton theroy but could'nt find any besides the giant pacific chiton that had its mantel covering is shell and was black. On the otherside when I look up Dendrodoris nigra most of the other pics dont look right but the one in the above link looks identical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 If it has a hard shell then it is not a nudibranch. Nudis do not have a shell, that is why it is called a "sea slug." How about this http://pets.webshots.com/photo/1049935801030708628CRgglh it is a "black limpet" from google search. It looks a lot like what you have. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScuito Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I was on a site I will have to find it again but its a nudi ID site and there are some nudi's with shells some are very much like snail shells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScuito Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 here is a nudi with shell http://www.nudipixel.net/species/bullina_lineata/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScuito Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 it is a "black limpet" from google search. It looks a lot like what you have. dsoz now that looks like it and after last night I search for "black limpit", Black chiton" and didnt find anything now if I can find some info or where to buy more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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