Warning to anyone with sea hares

[Aquaholic]

Sea hares when frightened will release a purple ink, well now I have "read" that the ink released is poisonis. It happened to me when my sea hare landed on my carpet anenome, luckly i was there when it happened and i could do a quick water change and increase the skimming.

Just a friendly heads up.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I don't think its poisonous. Seen it & nothing died in the tank. I think its a defensive dye that is released to startle & confuse a predator.

Anthony

[Ruth]

I agree - my Sea Hare had an encounter with a carpet anemone and sent out a whole whack of purple dye. Nothing suffered in my tank that I noticed. I do run carbon in this tank and it is 230g but even so no harmful effects that I could see.

[Aquaholic]

I read this and it is true, as far as how poisonis it is im not sure, but... It was a warning.

to quote "This is not exactly pen ink. A variety of chemicals make up the defensive secretion, creating a multi-pronged attack. The ink targets the predator’s nervous system and messes with the creature’s behavioral control system."

Refrence, the complete marine aquarist, and some internet resorces.

This is a fact.

[midgetwaiter]

The toxic components in the ink come from the animal's diet. If it has been eating the right kinds of algae then the ink could cause various reactions from your tank inhabitants or yourself.

Outside of very recent imports this should be a non issue, but it is certainly something to consider.

[Beermaster]

But still this is somthing that should have been known before you bought the critter

[Ruth]

Sorry Nail, wasn't at all meaning to flame you - just sharing my experience. It could of course be that the SH was not eating anything that caused a reaction in my tank or it could also be that my tank is 230g and I got the SH out of the anemone right away before it could release a whole lot of ink (looked like lots though - they really spit it out). Anyway thanks for the warning and I think a lot of people, including me, didn't know. Your heads up may very well help me or other people in the future.