Received a potentially deadly gift for the aquarium. What to do

fmuakkassa · 03/07/2006, 08:28 PM

As a gift, my wife bought a large sea apple from a local fish store and put in my aquarium as a surprise! I told her thank you very much and hinted that this is a cucumbner and I have read that it could be quite toxic. She told me the local fish store owner told her it was reef safe! My aquarium is a 180 g reef with 11 fish in it, soft corals, shrimp, brittle star etc.
Should I pannic, return it to the fish store or test my luck and try to keep it. I am must admit it is beautiful and my kids like it. I know it is dangerously deceiving.

fish are life · 03/07/2006, 08:36 PM

uhhhhgggg i have one at my work and i am just waiting for it to die and kill our entire tank, as you probably know when they die they release toxins. plus i think they look like a skinned chicken with mildew all over. say sorry to your wife and GET RID OF IT.

Fishfirst · 03/07/2006, 08:38 PM

get rid of it... a $75 dollar specimen isn't worth your tanks price.

XeniaMania · 03/07/2006, 08:42 PM

Yes...inform your wife that the store owner is a salesperson and maybe even show her a few articles about it. You should be very caring when you talk to her and make her understand that owning such a creature is not for the better of your tank. But I'm sure allowing her to read on why not to keep one will prevent her from feeling insulted.

imbuggin · 03/07/2006, 08:54 PM

I have had a few.1 wiped out an entire tank ...it was not worth it for sure!!

smleee · 03/07/2006, 09:19 PM

Show her this thread please.

Hi wifey!

eee

witchdoctor · 03/08/2006, 05:52 AM

Just in case it's not quite clear, GET RID OF IT!! ASAP!!!

SDguy · 03/08/2006, 06:12 AM

Just to be clear, the toxin they release if they die or are injured will kill your fish, quickly! But all other organisms would be fine. I had them years ago. Both the pink and purple variety. They are quite resilient, IMO. But feeding is a problem. Back then, there were no oyster eggs or phytoplankton and such, so maybe they can be target fed better now? Anyways, as they starve, they shrink. They only release their toxin if the die, or, as was my case, get stuck to a filter intake. So, cover all filter, PH intakes, and try target feeding. Note, I'm just telling you all this in case "taking it back" is not an option.

Here's an excellent article:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...003/invert.htm

The Reefer91 · 03/08/2006, 06:12 AM

seriously get rid of it. just find a way to put it nicely to the Mrs. after all, she did buy you a gift, how was she supposed to know it was EVIL!!!!!!!!

but give her an article to read. she'll be happy and you'll be happy. with that tie-die slug in your tank, you won't be happy

jamal-188 · 03/08/2006, 07:00 AM

I've also heard stories of them releasing eggs/sperm into the water column that is just as toxic as if they die, killing off people's entire tanks.

imbuggin · 03/08/2006, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
Just to be clear, the toxin they release if they die or are injured will kill your fish, quickly! But all other organisms would be fine. I had them years ago. Both the pink and purple variety. They are quite resilient, IMO. But feeding is a problem. Back then, there were no oyster eggs or phytoplankton and such, so maybe they can be target fed better now? Anyways, as they starve, they shrink. They only release their toxin if the die, or, as was my case, get stuck to a filter intake. So, cover all filter, PH intakes, and try target feeding. Note, I'm just telling you all this in case "taking it back" is not an option.

Here's an excellent article:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...003/invert.htm

Not just your fish EVERYTHING corals and inverts also. My house smelled for a week and the water looked like milk. My wife was ready to kill me!!!

moogoomoogoo · 03/08/2006, 10:18 AM

My ex-wife, in an attempt to please me, came home witha "cute" little 3 inch queen trigger that the LFS told her was appropriate for my FOWLR tank. Once it hit 6 inches it became a terror!!!!. Now after at least $1500 for a large tank, new skimmer, lights, pumps, etc., I now have a 12 inch queen triggerin its own tank. The thought was right, her and the store owner's education was not. I have to admit its a beautiful fish!

SDguy · 03/08/2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by imbuggin
Not just your fish EVERYTHING corals and inverts also. My house smelled for a week and the water looked like milk. My wife was ready to kill me!!!

Actually, if your tank smelled and was milky, then that was rotting sea apple that killed everything, not it's particular toxin, which does kill fish specifically. A dead anemone would have the same effect here.

When it happened to me, no smell, no milkiness, nothing. Just dead fish in 10 minutes.

By the way, for any science geeks, the toxins are Holothurin & Holotoxin.

hth

imbuggin · 03/08/2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
Actually, if your tank smelled and was milky, then that was rotting sea apple that killed everything, not it's particular toxin, which does kill fish specifically. A dead anemone would have the same effect here.

When it happened to me, no smell, no milkiness, nothing. Just dead fish in 10 minutes.

Correct the toxins help wiped out the entire tank over night it was a "trickle" effect. The toxins killed many corals and fish instantly and started the ammonia spike and down went the tank.

On the other hand an anemone would not do the same this was a large tank. An anemone would just rise you ammonia and you would have time to correct the situation. A dead anemone will not wipe out that large of a tank that quick. This was only a few hours. It would take longer for the anemone to rot, even if sucked into a pump.

oh yeah the toxins are milky in color as well

SDguy · 03/08/2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by imbuggin
The toxins killed many corals....

Nope.

imbuggin · 03/08/2006, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
Nope.

well I guess we will disagree. I had about 50 acro colonies that would disagree with you!

onereefnotenuf · 03/08/2006, 10:51 AM

just tell you're wife that it crawled out of the tank and died. she won't try to take it back and you won't be labeled the unappreciative husband!

SDguy · 03/08/2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by imbuggin
well I guess we will disagree.

I'm OK with that

imbuggin · 03/08/2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
I'm OK with that

gotta love a "friendly" thread once in a while!! Cheers

I think the main point is clear get rid of it.

SDguy · 03/08/2006, 12:19 PM

Glad my 1000th post was a friendly one.

I think it sets a great tone.

MarksReef · 03/08/2006, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by smleee
Show her this thread please. Hi wifey!

I agree and

XeniaMania · 03/08/2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by onereefnotenuf
just tell you're wife that it crawled out of the tank and died. she won't try to take it back and you won't be labeled the unappreciative husband!

ahahahahaha

XeniaMania · 03/08/2006, 01:02 PM

You may need to sun dry is to give it a better effect..opps...bad karma on my part..

Alaskan Reefer · 03/08/2006, 01:22 PM

Xenia, Jobu is goinjg to send you a center brace fish barbecue tomorrow, put the eggcrate back on. Immediately.

Ditch the sea apple, just make sure the Mrs. understands why -- if you do it right and help her understand fully, she may want to buy you more. Or clean your skimmer maybe if you really wow her.

XeniaMania · 03/08/2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alaskan Reefer
Xenia, Jobu is goinjg to send you a center brace fish barbecue tomorrow, put the eggcrate back on. Immediately.

dried apple?

03/07/2006, 08:28 PM	#1
fmuakkassa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 404	Received a potentially deadly gift for the aquarium. What to do As a gift, my wife bought a large sea apple from a local fish store and put in my aquarium as a surprise! I told her thank you very much and hinted that this is a cucumbner and I have read that it could be quite toxic. She told me the local fish store owner told her it was reef safe! My aquarium is a 180 g reef with 11 fish in it, soft corals, shrimp, brittle star etc. Should I pannic, return it to the fish store or test my luck and try to keep it. I am must admit it is beautiful and my kids like it. I know it is dangerously deceiving.

03/07/2006, 08:38 PM	#3
Fishfirst Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 986	get rid of it... a $75 dollar specimen isn't worth your tanks price. __________________ Proud member of the Tang Police Current Tank Info: Over 40,000 gallons of saltwater

03/07/2006, 08:54 PM	#5
imbuggin Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: chicago Posts: 1,495	get rid of it I have had a few.1 wiped out an entire tank ...it was not worth it for sure!!

03/08/2006, 06:12 AM	#8
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Just to be clear, the toxin they release if they die or are injured will kill your fish, quickly! But all other organisms would be fine. I had them years ago. Both the pink and purple variety. They are quite resilient, IMO. But feeding is a problem. Back then, there were no oyster eggs or phytoplankton and such, so maybe they can be target fed better now? Anyways, as they starve, they shrink. They only release their toxin if the die, or, as was my case, get stuck to a filter intake. So, cover all filter, PH intakes, and try target feeding. Note, I'm just telling you all this in case "taking it back" is not an option. Here's an excellent article: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...003/invert.htm __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

03/08/2006, 06:12 AM	#9
The Reefer91 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,250	seriously get rid of it. just find a way to put it nicely to the Mrs. after all, she did buy you a gift, how was she supposed to know it was EVIL!!!!!!!! but give her an article to read. she'll be happy and you'll be happy. with that tie-die slug in your tank, you won't be happy __________________ Dan "Every day we fade little by little, 'till there's nothing left of us but the lies we've sown." Current Tank Info: 20g L display: 2x65watt Coralife light, Octopus 150 needle wheel protein skimmer, 1 Koralia 2 and 2 powersweeps, and a DIY sump/fuge.....120G in the works!!!

03/07/2006, 08:36 PM	#2
fish are life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: tucson AZ Posts: 171	uhhhhgggg i have one at my work and i am just waiting for it to die and kill our entire tank, as you probably know when they die they release toxins. plus i think they look like a skinned chicken with mildew all over. say sorry to your wife and GET RID OF IT.

03/07/2006, 08:42 PM	#4
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	Yes...inform your wife that the store owner is a salesperson and maybe even show her a few articles about it. You should be very caring when you talk to her and make her understand that owning such a creature is not for the better of your tank. But I'm sure allowing her to read on why not to keep one will prevent her from feeling insulted.

03/07/2006, 09:19 PM	#6
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	Show her this thread please. Hi wifey! eee

03/08/2006, 05:52 AM	#7
witchdoctor Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 188	Just in case it's not quite clear, GET RID OF IT!! ASAP!!!

03/08/2006, 07:00 AM	#10
jamal-188 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: PA Posts: 1,480	I've also heard stories of them releasing eggs/sperm into the water column that is just as toxic as if they die, killing off people's entire tanks.

03/08/2006, 10:18 AM	#12
moogoomoogoo Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 581	My ex-wife, in an attempt to please me, came home witha "cute" little 3 inch queen trigger that the LFS told her was appropriate for my FOWLR tank. Once it hit 6 inches it became a terror!!!!. Now after at least $1500 for a large tank, new skimmer, lights, pumps, etc., I now have a 12 inch queen triggerin its own tank. The thought was right, her and the store owner's education was not. I have to admit its a beautiful fish! __________________ If all you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail

03/08/2006, 10:51 AM	#17
onereefnotenuf Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hamilton,Ohio Posts: 295	just tell you're wife that it crawled out of the tank and died. she won't try to take it back and you won't be labeled the unappreciative husband!

03/08/2006, 12:19 PM	#20
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Glad my 1000th post was a friendly one. I think it sets a great tone. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

03/08/2006, 01:02 PM	#23
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	You may need to sun dry is to give it a better effect..opps...bad karma on my part..

03/08/2006, 01:22 PM	#24
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	Xenia, Jobu is goinjg to send you a center brace fish barbecue tomorrow, put the eggcrate back on. Immediately. Ditch the sea apple, just make sure the Mrs. understands why -- if you do it right and help her understand fully, she may want to buy you more. Or clean your skimmer maybe if you really wow her. __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress