Common name: blunt-end sea hare
General information
The Dolabella Sea Hare, scientifically known as Dolabella auricularia, is a large and unique marine gastropod mollusk. It is well-known for its distinctive, ear-like shape and its ability to produce a purple ink when threatened. This inking is a defense mechanism against predators, similar to the way squids and octopuses use ink.
Details
- Recommended minimum tank volume
- 75 liter (20 gallons)
- Salinity
- S.G. 1.022 to 1.025
- Temperature
- 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F)
- Acidity
- pH 8.1 to 8.4
- Average size
- 30 cm (1′)
- Care level
- Moderate to easy Needs ample space to graze
- Diet
- Herbivore Grazes on algae
- Reefsafe
- Yes
- Aggression
- Peaceful
- Captive bred
- No
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumMollusksMollusca
- ClassGastropodsGastropoda
- OrderSea HaresAnaspidea
- FamilySea HaresAplysiidae
- GenusDolabella Sea HareDolabella
- Speciesblunt-end sea hareDolabella auricularia (Lightfoot, 1786)
- SynonymsAplysia ecaudata Rang, 1828Aplysia gigas Rang, 1828Aplysia teremidi Rang, 1828Aplysia truncata Rang, 1828Dolabella callosa Lamarck, 1801Dolabella ecaudata (Rang, 1828)Dolabella gigas Rang, 1828Dolabella rumphii Blainville, 1819Dolabella rumphii CuvierDolabella rumphii maculosa Bergh, 1905Dolabella scapula (Martyn, 1786)Patella auricularia Lightfoot, 1786Patella scapula Martyn, 1786
Care
Dolabella Sea Hares are herbivorous and require a diet rich in macroalgae to thrive in captivity. They are excellent algae grazers and can help control algae growth in a reef tank. However, they can grow quite large, up to 30 centimeters in length, and therefore need a spacious tank with plenty of live rock and hiding places.
Reproduction
In the wild, Dolabella Sea Hares are known to form mating chains during reproduction. They are simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning each individual can act as both male and female during these chains. In the aquarium, breeding is less common but can occur if conditions are favorable.
Habitat
Dolabella Sea Hares are found in shallow waters, often in seagrass beds and on rocky or sandy substrates. They are distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific Ocean.