Sea Hare Injury

[drew1]

We have a great sea hare! He eats every evening from about 5pm until I would guess a little after midnight. He does a great job on the algae and has been rotated between two of our aquariums. Well, this evening I noticed a smooth bald spot on his back, probably about 1-1/2" x 1/2" wide. It looks like he may have fallen off the glass (he does this quite often) and scraped his back on the rocks. It looks like it would have hurt, but true to his character he was eating all evening. Has anyone else had hare injuries, not including getting chopped up in powerheads. He has a great personality, but he really is clumsy. Are all sea hares this clumsy?
Drew

[dianezoo]

How long have you had your seahare?

[mantid]

I have had a few sea hares. Most of mine, like yours, get weird problems. I see them eating and what seems to be thriving and one day up and dies. No explanation.

[drew1]

That's not what I wanted to hear. He seems to be doing great, has a great personality, and has plenty of food, but he is definitely clumsy. I'm going to do what I can to assure that he has a long life, but unfortunately you never know.

[cbrownfish]

One of those creatures that "seem" to do great but die anyway....unfortunately. I have very seldom heard of anyone who has had one for more than a few months. They eat great but must not be eating a proper diet somehow.

[mantid]

Originally Posted by cbrownfish

One of those creatures that "seem" to do great but die anyway....unfortunately. I have very seldom heard of anyone who has had one for more than a few months. They eat great but must not be eating a proper diet somehow.

I have had different experiences with different types.

This kind that has the "flaps" or "wings" on its back, or looks like it has a slit down its back, I have not had good luck with and only could keep alive for a couple months.

Like this one:
*not my photo

The ones that have the closed back but a little "blow hole" on its back I have had much greater success as far as lifespan and variation of diet. I have had this kind for up to but no more than a year. I could always tell when they are on their way out because they seem to loose their ability to stick to the glass etc and die soon after. These ones can be found and purchased from Saltwater Fish Superstore - Saltwaterfish.com . Luckily my local fish shop has these in stock at all times.

like this one:
*not my photo

[dianezoo]

Ive had three of them and all of them around a month or two.

[drew1]

We have the non-flying sea hare. He still seems to doing great emerging from the sand each evening and eating up a storm over the next 5-7 hours. Yesterday we fed him some boiled lettuce trying to determine a diet for him if he ever runs out of algae. While he appears to prefer algae he did eat the lettuce from our hand. Very cute.

[dianezoo]

Yours burys himself in the sand, Ive not seen them do that?

[mantid]

Originally Posted by dianezoo

Yours burys himself in the sand, Ive not seen them do that?

I have never seen that either.

[drew1]

Yep. Every night after he finishes eating . Sometime to the point you almost can't find him. It's really pretty cool. The last couple nights have been the same location, but prior to that location tended to vary each night.

[dianezoo]

cool !!they are neat.