Dolabella Sea Hare

Dolabella Sea Hare – Dolabella auricularia

The Dolabella Sea Hare is a large, soft-bodied marine gastropod with a mottled tan to green coloration, capable of growing up to 12 inches in the home aquarium. It is a slow-moving, peaceful invertebrate that grazes continuously on algae while seeking shaded areas and open sand patches for roaming. If startled, it may release a purple defensive dye to deter predators, making it a fascinating and functional addition to a reef cleanup crew. Dolabella Sea Hares are reef-safe and highly effective at controlling hair and filamentous algae.

Dolabella Sea Hares should be introduced only to well-established aquariums with ample live rock, open sandy areas, and hiding spots. A minimum tank size of 30 gallons is recommended to allow them room to graze and move freely. Provide shaded areas or rock overhangs to mimic their natural habitat and reduce stress. Because they release a potentially toxic purple dye when alarmed, having chemical filtration such as carbon, Chemipure Blue, or Poly-Bio-Marine Poly Filter pads on hand is strongly recommended.

This sea hare is primarily herbivorous and requires a constant supply of algae. Recommended foods include Julian Sprung’s Sea Veggies clipped to the tank, Hikari Spirulina Brine Shrimp, San Francisco Bay Brand Spirulina Mysis Shrimp, Ocean Nutrition Formula 2 Frozen Food, or New Life Spectrum Algae Pellets, if natural algae is insufficient.

Approximate product size (in inches): 2" – 4"