Big cucumber sifting sand

[cam191919]

I got
1 foot long sea cucumber from my marine science class for my newly set up 220 thinking he would eat detritus. It seems like he is but he also eats a lot of sand with it. Any chance he's destroying my live sandbed?

 

[Amphiprion]

No, it shouldn't be a problem. They mostly just eat the films that are on the sand grains, not the animals in it. While they are among the most desirable animals to have for the purpose of gently stirring things, they also easily starve. Being a 1 ft long individual, I'd be more concerned about it starving, so keep an eye out for it shrinking.

 

[Cerianthus]

I would prefer to add cucumbers in well matured tank as new set up probably cant provide enough food sources.

They can stretch & contract and they can stetch quite a bit.
If memory serves, not all will do well just on detritus.

You should actually be able to see trail of ---- behind certain cucumbers.

Pics?

 

[cam191919]

He's been eating pretty well so far off whatevers in the tank. He leaves a 1/2 inch dia "rope" of poo where're he goes. Is there anything I could supplement his diet with, I'd love to keep him but if I think he's starving I'll take him back to his old tank.

Definitely one of my new favorite critters, he's squeezed behind a rock right now but I'll get a pic soon

 

[Cerianthus]

1/2"??? All of mine left lot thinner trails. Even with trails, it does not mean it is getting proper and/or enough food.
Try culturing phyto to promote microfauna growth in culturing tank (preferred) OR add small amt of phyto to main tank for little while.

Looking forward to pics of it as well as your tank.

 

[cam191919]

 

[Cerianthus]

Gorgeous animal and Chunky!! & Yummy:grinno:

Although familiar with the species but never kept them personally. Most of mine originated from I-P ocean.

I believe this is Isostichopus badionotus, commonly known as chocolate chip cucumber from Atlantic.

Perhaps train my boys for deeping water free diving next summer to collect local specimen, if any.

Good Luck!

 

[cam191919]

Thank you

I think at some point I'll put him in my 46 gallon tank, it's well established and very "dirty". Not for too long though

 

[Cerianthus]

Thank you

I think at some point I'll put him in my 46 gallon tank, it's well established and very "dirty". Not for too long though

Since it is well adjusted to new environment, I would leave it be as long as you add fish food to the tank.

Believe it or not, live cucumbers/abalones/oysters , etc etc are avail at much lower $ around here (markets, not lfs) which I have tried to keep in my tanks with great success many yrs ago..

 

[cam191919]

Ok. His tank has been up and running for several months now, his only tankmate is a watchman goby. Iv got Christmas money to spend on more though