Feeding sea hare so it doesn't starve?

[adee]

I do not have one yet but have been told by my lfs that it would be great to have in my 54... I've read a bit about them and wonder, if there is no more algae in the tank to eat how do you keep it from starving? Can you hang sheets of algae in the tank?

 

[meowzer]

I have read that you can feed them algae sheets, BUT have not read too many success stories on the sea hare actually taking to them
I have had NO luck myself

 

[adee]

That's a shame and why I come here first! Thanks!!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ADEE http:///t/395072/feeding-sea-hare-so-it-doesnt-starve#post_3516667
That's a shame and why I come here first! Thanks!!
If you don't have a hair alga problem, there is not enough food to keep a seahare alive. Snails are great algae eaters for the average tank. If you just have lots of regular algae, more than the usual, try a dwarf angelfish, foxface rabbit fish, tang (depends on the tank size), or an urchin, any one of those will keep the tank nice and clean.

 

[raptor72]

I DO have a GHA problem, and I still haven't been able to keep them alive for more than a month. Awesome to watch, but seem somewhat finicky as far as keeping alive. I've probably gone through about 5 now.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor72 http:///t/395072/feeding-sea-hare-so-it-doesnt-starve#post_3516727
I DO have a GHA problem, and I still haven't been able to keep them alive for more than a month. Awesome to watch, but seem somewhat finicky as far as keeping alive. I've probably gone through about 5 now.
I read someplace (sorry, I don't remember where) that the young seahare feeds on the short red turf algae more than GHA, and don't feed on GHA completely until they are mature. If that's the case, a seahare will starve before it clears the GHA out of the tank.