Sea Hare advise

[Hiker_]

I have a bit of a hair algae problem that I've been fighting for about 2 months. I've cut down my feeding to 3x per week and reduced the lighting schedule. I have a phosphate reactor as well. I've tried to pull it out, suction it out and scrub with a toothbursh. I can't seem to get rid of it.

I did buy a sea hare 3 weeks ago and it started making a good dent in the algae, but it only lived for a week. Any idea why it only lasted a week? It has plent of food. I read that they sometime do better in groups of 3+. Any advise on them would be appreciated.

 

[Hiker_]

Nobody?

 

[Elysia]

I have never heard that sea slugs do better in groups (and I thought that I had heard a lot of the "myths" circulating about their care.)

Do you know how long the store had the hare before you purchased it? Do you know what species of hare it was? Was anything picking on it? There are many things that can kill sea hares, including senescence. It would really be hard to say based on the information given.

 

[Hiker_]

I have no clue how long the LFS has it. Here is the link to the sea hare I bought. I did not order it, I went to the LFS to purchase it. I drip acclimated over a period of 4hrs. It looked completely fine the last time I saw it and it was eating hair algae.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/244264/product.web

 

[strangedingbat]

We had a serious problem. We introduced 2 Hares and they nuked the problem in 3 weeks. Problem is they hide in the system, and to get them out is really tough!!!

 

[strangedingbat]

mmm BKC Error . . . ignore

 

[Elysia]

Do you mean that you went into TFP to purchase the slug, or are you using their photo as an example? If your LFS is TFP, they usually have the date they imported the stock right on the label that indicates the species and price (that is on the front of the tank.) It is a very helpful piece of information.

Additional information about this sea hare can be found on the seaslugforum. I'm still not sure that I can give you a reason as to why your hare died.