Sea Cucumbers

Naperenterprise · 11/18/2008, 07:08 PM

I hear all sorts of different things about sea cucumbers.

I hear if they die they will kill off your tank.

I have one in each of my tanks, and was told they are excellant sand sifters. Can you tell me your experiences with them?

Thanks

reidcrandall · 11/18/2008, 07:14 PM

I havehad no problems with mine. I have one in my sump and one in my main tank. They're been there for about 2 years.

buccard · 11/18/2008, 07:42 PM

I heard the same thing...tiger tails seem to have the best reputation. I have noticed alot of experienced reefers have them in their tank.

I put a dark colored one in my tank...looks like poo with spines

Sand pellets the size of small marbles shoot out the rear end! Funny to watch at first. I can usually find mine pretty easy so if he were to die I should be able to get him out right away.

Naperenterprise · 11/18/2008, 07:50 PM

Well one of mine is lost in my 450 gallon holding tank, and the other one (its a yellow one) is in my sump, pretty easy to find. They are a good CUC addition in my opinion...

LobsterOfJustice · 11/18/2008, 08:06 PM

I dont believe the sand-sifters are toxic when they die.

justinl · 11/18/2008, 09:10 PM

many cukes, sand-sifter or filterfeeder, are toxic on death; depends on species. all can spew their guts if they feel threatened enough (which is a ridiculous mess). Tiger tails are not toxic. Usually it's the pretty ones that are using their bright colors to warn off predators, whereas the drab ones are just trying to blend in and don't bother expending energy on making toxins; most of the time this rule works.

I had a black one for a while, no problems. Didn't do a whole lot for my sand sifting, but he was still a pretty cool critter. Gave it away as I didn't want to kill it with my new addition (a big mantis shrimp).

Naperenterprise · 11/18/2008, 09:16 PM

Well that makes a lot of sense, thanks.
How is your mantis doing? I found one of those too, put it in my sump, haven't seen it for a long time. It was a small red one about 1.5 inch long.

Cool critters! I think the pistol shrimp is really cool as well!

justinl · 11/18/2008, 09:53 PM

my mantis is doing really well. Had him for about... six months or so now? He's an O. scyllarus, about 5" long. yeah pistols and mantis shrimp are pretty sweet invertebrates.

kiknchikn · 11/18/2008, 10:09 PM

My theory about cukes is that most people see their cuke eviscerating and see their tank crashing and they ASSUME the cuke caused the crash, when really the tank started crashing and as a result the cuke eviscerated due to stress. That's just a theory though.

phil519 · 11/18/2008, 10:13 PM

Read this article....http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...003/invert.htm

it really clears up the story behind cukes and the "risk" they are to the tank.

11/18/2008, 07:08 PM	#1
Naperenterprise Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hopewell, PA Posts: 24	Sea Cucumbers I hear all sorts of different things about sea cucumbers. I hear if they die they will kill off your tank. I have one in each of my tanks, and was told they are excellant sand sifters. Can you tell me your experiences with them? Thanks __________________ ~Jason~ Current Tank Info: 400 gallon reef, 85 gallon & 65 gallon reef

11/18/2008, 07:14 PM	#2
reidcrandall Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fishers, IN Posts: 976	I havehad no problems with mine. I have one in my sump and one in my main tank. They're been there for about 2 years. __________________ Reid There is no more red house! Click my name and see my homepage for my 120g Reef w/ custom stand build! Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech In Progress

11/18/2008, 07:42 PM	#3
buccard Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 970	I heard the same thing...tiger tails seem to have the best reputation. I have noticed alot of experienced reefers have them in their tank. I put a dark colored one in my tank...looks like poo with spines Sand pellets the size of small marbles shoot out the rear end! Funny to watch at first. I can usually find mine pretty easy so if he were to die I should be able to get him out right away. __________________ Roger Save a fish, click on the red house. Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon-mixed reef

11/18/2008, 07:50 PM	#4
Naperenterprise Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hopewell, PA Posts: 24	Well one of mine is lost in my 450 gallon holding tank, and the other one (its a yellow one) is in my sump, pretty easy to find. They are a good CUC addition in my opinion... __________________ ~Jason~ Current Tank Info: 400 gallon reef, 85 gallon & 65 gallon reef

11/18/2008, 08:06 PM	#5
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I dont believe the sand-sifters are toxic when they die. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

11/18/2008, 09:10 PM	#6
justinl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,118	many cukes, sand-sifter or filterfeeder, are toxic on death; depends on species. all can spew their guts if they feel threatened enough (which is a ridiculous mess). Tiger tails are not toxic. Usually it's the pretty ones that are using their bright colors to warn off predators, whereas the drab ones are just trying to blend in and don't bother expending energy on making toxins; most of the time this rule works. I had a black one for a while, no problems. Didn't do a whole lot for my sand sifting, but he was still a pretty cool critter. Gave it away as I didn't want to kill it with my new addition (a big mantis shrimp).

11/18/2008, 09:16 PM	#7
Naperenterprise Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hopewell, PA Posts: 24	Well that makes a lot of sense, thanks. How is your mantis doing? I found one of those too, put it in my sump, haven't seen it for a long time. It was a small red one about 1.5 inch long. Cool critters! I think the pistol shrimp is really cool as well! __________________ ~Jason~ Current Tank Info: 400 gallon reef, 85 gallon & 65 gallon reef

11/18/2008, 09:53 PM	#8
justinl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,118	my mantis is doing really well. Had him for about... six months or so now? He's an O. scyllarus, about 5" long. yeah pistols and mantis shrimp are pretty sweet invertebrates.

11/18/2008, 10:09 PM	#9
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	My theory about cukes is that most people see their cuke eviscerating and see their tank crashing and they ASSUME the cuke caused the crash, when really the tank started crashing and as a result the cuke eviscerated due to stress. That's just a theory though. __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef

11/18/2008, 10:13 PM	#10
phil519 Got Rotifers? Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,760	Read this article....http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...003/invert.htm it really clears up the story behind cukes and the "risk" they are to the tank. __________________ Phil NJ reefers club Current Tank Info: 120 RR Mixed Reef, Custom 40G sump, started Nov 2008. "Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?"