Sea Cucumber Question

Bluetooth · 10/12/2006, 06:04 PM

I am considering adding 1 or 2 cukes to my 150 to help with sand cleaning. I am looking for comments from people with actual experience with these: do they do a good job at cleanup, do they wipe out your tank when they die (toxins), do fish or small hermits harass them (angel, tang, hogfish, hawkfish), are certain types better than others?

I have been searching old threads on these for about two hours, and have read quite a bit of contradictory information.

Thanks for any help.

leapfroggg · 10/12/2006, 06:56 PM

i had one for about a year it just kept shrinking till it disappered
dint seam to bother anything when it died

bertoni · 10/12/2006, 07:39 PM

Some species of sea cucumbers have more toxin than others. Which species were you planning to keep? They prefer a fine sand substrate. Some fish might bother a sea cucumber. I'd check for each species.

z_rivers · 10/12/2006, 08:23 PM

ive had a few cukes before and they did a pretty good job at cleaning the sand. fyi- sand sifting cukes dont release toxins when they dies, its the photosynthetic ones that do (sea apples etc)

Maveri9720 · 10/12/2006, 09:13 PM

I'll put in my quick .02

The non-toxic ones, like the Tiger Tail are not totally safe, b/c if scared or provoked, they will release their internal organs, which can still be toxic to other livestock and can create a mess in the tank.

I looked into them and when I started reading people's experiences with them, I decided it wasn't worth it to me to have to deal with the worst case scenario.

I would rather look at fighting conchs or more snails or maybe a jawfish or goby to clean/sift through the sand.

JMO.

drummereef · 10/12/2006, 10:59 PM

Go for the tigertails. I had a couple. They did a fantastic job polishing the sandbed. They aren't the prettiest thing to look at, but much safer than sea apples.

yeame · 10/12/2006, 11:38 PM

I have had 2 one was yellow and ended up getting stuck in a power head didn't hurt anything in the tank did a quick water change (10g-75)the other is 2" white and black and hide's well they were both hitch hikers and I love him he stir's more sand than any snail I've had him about 2 1/2 years

10/12/2006, 06:04 PM	#1
Bluetooth Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 105	Sea Cucumber Question I am considering adding 1 or 2 cukes to my 150 to help with sand cleaning. I am looking for comments from people with actual experience with these: do they do a good job at cleanup, do they wipe out your tank when they die (toxins), do fish or small hermits harass them (angel, tang, hogfish, hawkfish), are certain types better than others? I have been searching old threads on these for about two hours, and have read quite a bit of contradictory information. Thanks for any help.

10/12/2006, 07:39 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Some species of sea cucumbers have more toxin than others. Which species were you planning to keep? They prefer a fine sand substrate. Some fish might bother a sea cucumber. I'd check for each species. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/12/2006, 08:23 PM	#4
z_rivers Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cranberry Twp, PA Posts: 1,240	ive had a few cukes before and they did a pretty good job at cleaning the sand. fyi- sand sifting cukes dont release toxins when they dies, its the photosynthetic ones that do (sea apples etc) __________________ -Aaron Current Tank Info: 75gal display, 30 gallon sump/refugium, 2x 250w Hamilton 14K MH, 4,000 gallon koi pond

10/12/2006, 10:59 PM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Go for the tigertails. I had a couple. They did a fantastic job polishing the sandbed. They aren't the prettiest thing to look at, but much safer than sea apples. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

10/12/2006, 06:56 PM	#2
leapfroggg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: new york Posts: 53	i had one for about a year it just kept shrinking till it disappered dint seam to bother anything when it died

10/12/2006, 09:13 PM	#5
Maveri9720 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, GA Posts: 63	I'll put in my quick .02 The non-toxic ones, like the Tiger Tail are not totally safe, b/c if scared or provoked, they will release their internal organs, which can still be toxic to other livestock and can create a mess in the tank. I looked into them and when I started reading people's experiences with them, I decided it wasn't worth it to me to have to deal with the worst case scenario. I would rather look at fighting conchs or more snails or maybe a jawfish or goby to clean/sift through the sand. JMO.

10/12/2006, 11:38 PM	#7
yeame Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: maine Posts: 488	I have had 2 one was yellow and ended up getting stuck in a power head didn't hurt anything in the tank did a quick water change (10g-75)the other is 2" white and black and hide's well they were both hitch hikers and I love him he stir's more sand than any snail I've had him about 2 1/2 years