Donkey's ear abalone (Haliotis asinina) care guide
- Group
- Snails
- Other names
- Ass's-ear abalone, Donkey ear abalone, Abalone
- Family
- Haliotidae
- Origin
- Indo-West Pacific, from the eastern Indian Ocean to the central Pacific, including southern Japan and northern Australia
- Water
- saltwater
- Maximum size
- 12 cm
- Temperature
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Hardness
- dKH 8–12, SG 1.023–1.025
- Care level
- intermediate
- Reef safe
- yes
Care
The donkey's ear abalone is a tropical abalone with a long, narrow, curved shell shaped like a donkey's ear, reaching about 12 cm though usually around 9 cm. The smooth shell is olive-green to brown with triangular markings, a row of five to seven open holes along one side, and a pearly pink and green interior. In life the large foot and mantle cover much of the shell, so it seldom carries growths. It lives on shallow coral reefs down to about 10 m, hiding under boulders and coral heads by day and coming out at night to graze turf algae. In aquaria it is a strong algae grazer for an established reef or fish-only tank with plenty of rock and algae; it is the fastest-growing of all abalones, so it needs a good food supply. Water figures here are standard reef conditions (general guidance), as our sources give none. General hobby advice, not from our sources: abalones grip very tightly. Never prise one off rock or glass, as they are easily cut and can bleed to death; wait for it to move, or slide a thin plastic card under the foot gently. Guard pump intakes and keep a lid on, as they can wander. They can starve in tanks without enough algae. Copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most invertebrates. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haliotisasinina). Checked October 2026.
Diet
A herbivore that grazes turf and film algae on rock at night. In the aquarium supplement with nori or other dried seaweed and algae wafers, especially once natural algae is grazed down; a large abalone eats a lot.
Breeding
Sexes are separate. It spawns into the water and the larvae spend at least three or four days in the plankton before settling on coralline algae, where the maroon juveniles are well camouflaged. It matures within a year. It may spawn in aquaria, but the larvae are rarely raised outside hatcheries.
Compatibility and tank mates
Reef safe and harmless to corals and fish. May be eaten or harassed by triggers, puffers, large wrasses and big crabs. Keep only as many as the algae can support.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.