Tiger Tail Sea Cucumber Sick

A

angel626

AC Members
Apr 21, 2007
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My fat tiger tail disappeared for a few days, we were concerned but found him a few days later at the other side of the tank lodged into a rock. Later we found him completely out of the rocks (this never happens)..Today he was out eating and took a lot longer to go back into the rocks once the lights were on-He spent most the day with his head or anus (hard to tell) poking out. I left the lights low. It also looks like he has some of his intestines out. I understand this can happen from stress, rubbing up against rocks ect. I can't get him out of the tank.. I already run carbon.

Question... I want to do a water change to improve the water quality for the other fish. I am worried that this may cause additional stress on him. Should I do the water change?

I was also told to soak him in some water with iodine. Not possible because 95% of the time like most tiger tail he is lodged into the rocks.. I added 1 tsp to my 55 gallon tank. Will this help and can I do something else to help the poor fat guy.
 
Are you sure that it is his intestines hanging out and not just his digestive organs that are supposed to be out?
 
I'm reading about them now...sounds like they like full strength salinity and don't tolerate salinity changes well...have you tested that param?
 
I have never read that they have digestive organs on the outside. Only that they will eject their digestive tract as a defense. He is not reproducing. The thought never crossed my mind, but now I know what to look for if he does. All of my tank perim are stable and where they always are. The only thing that I can think of is that these are his digestive tract-- which resemble wet spaghetti noodles. I am keeping a close eye on him. He is eating a lot --(there are a lot of new sand casing around the tank). Thanks fort the suggestions and info. This is a fascinating invertibrate that I love learning more about. I hope that he is fine because I would hate to lose him.
 
My understanding is that they suck water in through one end (the side without the "filter" looking things" and blow it out the other end. As it passes through, the filters (digestive organs) grab hold of nutrients and absorb them. I've seen videos of them expelling their innards or half expelling them and it looks really different then the filters just sticking out. Check out youtube...they have lots of helpful cucumber videos. I really like these guys too.
 
I mis-spoke...the pieces sticking out are part of the respiratory tract (they respirate on the rear end side).
 
Yes, I am aware of that. But these are new. They have not always been there. He seems to be doing well. I will just continue to watch him.
 
angel626 said:
Yes, I am aware of that. But these are new. They have not always been there. He seems to be doing well. I will just continue to watch him.
Click to expand...

Ironically, mine decided to throw out his intestines today. Had I not freaked out, I should have taken photos but I was busy getting rid of the gross stuff. It was a large blob of goop followed by long stringy things. Hope this isn't what your guy is going through. My guy sends your guy well wishes.:)
 
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