Florida Spotted Sea Hare (Aplysia dactylomela)

The Florida Spotted Sea Hare, Aplysia dactylomela, is an effective algae eater, feeding on both Macro and Micro Algae, including green hair algae. It’s known for its ability to rapidly clean a tank of algae, often within days. Once the natural algae are depleted, it’s important to provide supplemental algae, such as Caulerpa or dried kelp.

A notable defense mechanism of the Sea Hare is its ability to release a purple dye when threatened, which can be harmful to fish. Therefore, it’s essential to have a robust chemical filtration system in the aquarium to promptly remove these toxins and prevent potential problems. This filtration is crucial to maintain a safe environment for all tank inhabitants.