Does anyone have a pet Abalone?

Question

What do they need to be fed on? Do they need bedding?

Answer 1

yeah my uncle does he puts them in a wire cage and in the sea below so they eat what they eat as before. It is pretty cool to see them eat but they are simply too shy to show us how they eat.
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Answer 2

Environment:

Abalone are distributed along the coastal waters of every major continent with the exception of South America and the east coast of North America. They are also found along many islands in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The greatest number of species of species and densities are located off of Australia, Japan and western North America.

The Black abalone's depth distribution extends from high tide to approximately twenty feet, with a maximum in the intertidal zone (the area covered and uncovered by the usual tides). In the wild they adhere to rocky surfaces. If removed they can right themselves and crawl on sandy, gravel surfaces to firmer ground.

By and large abalone are secretive, "shy" creatures that prefer subdued lighting. They will move around a bit and do display interesting, albeit slow motion behavior after becoming established.

Like most "reef" species abalone enjoy "high" water quality; specific gravities of 1.023-25, low to no ammonia, nitrite, ... The species (naturally shallow water) in use is better suited than deeper dwelling ones as far as environmental tolerance goes. I do not endorse any special quarantine or preventative dipping procedures with abalones. They should be carefully placed and removed. Use a stiff card (credit) slid slowly and deliberately underneath to peel them off the side of their tank, buy the rock they are on or gingerly pries off with your wetted thumb; but do not cut into their body. As with anemones this almost always spells disaster. Hold them near their new home until they move out and begin attaching themselves.

The few parasitic and symbiotic organisms associated with Haliotids don't seem to affect other species negatively. Hitch-hiking creatures on the wild specimens shells might be a cause for concern however. I would avoid any with barnacles if stocking fish in the same system. Many barnacles have larval life's as fish parasites.

Feeding:

Very young abalone feed on benthic diatoms (those brownish scums and stains on your coral, substrate and sides). Larger (bigger than a dime) individuals are "macrophagous herbivores" meaning they eat larger algae. This they grate with a specialized rasp-like organ, like their relatives the snails. The structure of this "radula" is quite remarkable and constantly replaces itself as it is worn down.

Ideally, you might have an ocean full of various fresh kelps to select new "drift" from daily for your ab(s). In actual practice some algae-growing "live-rock" and algae-based frozen and dried foods do the trick. I'd like to plug the oriental food markets here as a good, inexpensive source for the latter. Check them out; kombu and Nori is cheap!

Depending on temperature, size, type of food, daily to twice weekly feeding is warranted. Place the food near the abalone. Their sense of smell is excellent; the specimen should move over and trap the food item under the front of it's foot.

Answer 3

I thought Abalones were for food. You'd better be careful, don't accidentally cook it up.

Answer 4

nope, but i've eaten Abalone sandwich before

Answer 5

No, check with pet shops dealing with marine fish.

Answer 6

no..i havent even heard of them before

Answer 7

no