Help! Not What I Ordered

[stanleo]

Help! I ordered a crab,2 clams and sw plant and instead of the plant they gave me a slug! I don't know what kind because they sent it in a dark bag and the only way incould see inside was to shine a light in the top. I haven't taken anything out yet because I am floating the bags right now. I will put a pic when I start dripping it so u can help identify it for me. I don't how to take care of one. I would love to keep it but if I can't what should I do?

 

[Doomchibi]

I think you should definitely contact the store or company you purchased from, they will likely send you the plant for free and may even let you keep the.. slug.. i you want it. (I didn't even know there were aquatic slugs!) They may be able to tell you what it is if you describe it to them. Good luck!

 

[rikkitiger]

wow! sounds like a mix up in the compny for sure. Contact them is my advice too. Companies want your buisiness so they will probably apologize and send you your order and let you keep the slug. Just a guess. would love to see a pic and good luck

 

[stanleo]

Ok I have done some research and made some calls. I believe it's a sea hare,Aplysia.sp. from what I have read some are toxic. I am not sure exactly which species I have and I won't be able to get a pic until I put him in a bucket to start the drip acclimation. I am going to have to go into serious research mode if I do keep. My LFS said they would only take it if I found out the exact species.

 

[stanleo]

i have the room somewhat dark so its a little blurry but i have 2 pics
 

 

 

[rikkitiger]

he's a weird looking thing! cool

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

How can someone mistake reading plant for a slug? Lol..

It's cute though

 

[lilyguppy]

Man, he's really cool! I wonder how a plant got confused with a sea hare...

 

[Doomchibi]

I admit he's pretty cute but i'd still be a little frustrated that I didn't get the plant. If you haven't already, you should call the company so at the very least they can check if their stock is all screwed up or if they are missing things.

 

[stanleo]

I called them. They said they would send the plant to me or give me store credit. I took the credit cause with my job its hard to know when I will be home and its really cold here right now like 20F or lower so I don't want it sitting on my porch. I will get it the next time I make an order. If this sea hare doesn't die and I am able to care for it, I will be happy about the accident cause this thing is just plain cool!
 
I do wish I had the plant though. I wonder if sea hares eat macroalgae?

 

[rikkitiger]

ha! realy cold there? where i am it is literally -20F right now lol

 

[Ryan10]

Very interesting.  How big is it?  I've never seen one before.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Stinks about the mix up, I hope you can keep it alive! Looks really cute and interesting What does it act like in the tank?

 

[stanleo]

He is 5 inches long and yesterday he was exploring all over the rock mountain in the tank looking for algae. He ate a whole sheet of seaweed in 2 hours and cleaned a small rock of algae in no time. I'm a little worried now because last night he parked himself in the top back right corner of the tank and hasn't moved yet. he turns around now and then and eats a little from that spot but I am worried that he is a cold water variety and that place in comfortable for him. But I do have a new pic
 

 

[Ninjouzata]

Omnomnom! Is that good that he's eating the algae for you?
I do hope he's alright! And somehow he's even cuter!