DOLABELLA AURICULARI Sea hare

Dolabella auricularia , the Sea Hare, is a large opisthobranchiata (related to nudibranchs) native to the Indo-Pacific. It is one of the best biological cleaners of invasive filamentous algae.

His role in the baccalaureate

An extraordinarily efficient consumer of filamentous algae — particularly Bryopsis , Derbesia , and Chaetomorpha . A single individual can consume large quantities in just a few days.

Important defense mechanism: If stressed or dying, it can release a toxic purple ink that can cause hypoxia in small tanks. A tank of at least 300L is recommended.

Recommended conditions

• Temperature: 24–27°C — Salinity: 1.023–1.026
• pH: 7.8–8.4 (normal natural day/night fluctuation in a reef tank)
• Minimum volume: 300L recommended
• Presence of abundant filamentous algae

Behavior

Active and visible. Once the algae are exhausted, it may wither or attempt to escape — plan for preventative removal.