Wedge sea hare
Dolabella auricularia
Also known as Blunt-End Sea Hare, Dolabella Sea Hare, Shoulderblade Sea Cat, Ragged Sea Hare
SaltwaterInvertebrate
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 50 gal
- 190 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Aplysiidae
- Origin
- Widespread across the Indo-Pacific, grazing shallow sandy lagoon flats and seagrass beds.
Overview
The wedge sea hare is a bulky, algae-grazing sea slug for an established saltwater tank. It is peaceful and reef safe, but it is for experienced keepers.
Did you know
Compounds first isolated from the wedge sea hare, the dolastatins, became the chemical starting point for several modern anti-cancer drugs.
Caring for the wedge sea hare
Keep a wedge sea hare in an established tank of at least 50 gal (190 L) with a steady supply of hair and film algae. It lives on the bottom and is best kept on its own. Keep it away from pump intakes and overflows.
Hold the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Skip copper-based medications, because sea hares do not tolerate copper.
The wedge sea hare is strictly herbivorous and will not touch dry or frozen foods. Once it clears the algae in your tank, it slowly starves unless you offer sheets of nori. A large animal that dies can foul a tank quickly.
Good to know
The wedge sea hare, Dolabella auricularia, is a large, lumpy sea slug in the family Aplysiidae. It is usually mottled brown or green, and its blunt, squared-off rear end gives it its common name. It is one of the bulkiest sea hares kept in aquariums. When alarmed, it can release a cloud of purple ink. It is also sold as the blunt-end sea hare, the ragged sea hare and the shoulderblade sea cat.
In the wild
The wedge sea hare is widespread across the Indo-Pacific, where it grazes shallow sandy lagoon flats and seagrass beds. It plows slowly across sand and rock, mowing down algae as it goes.
Common questions
What size tank does a wedge sea hare need?
A wedge sea hare needs at least 50 gal (190 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a wedge sea hare need?
A wedge sea hare is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a wedge sea hare eat?
A wedge sea hare eats hair and film algae and will not touch dry or frozen foods. Once the algae in the tank runs out, offer it sheets of nori.
How big does a wedge sea hare get?
An adult wedge sea hare reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
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