Cucumbers???

[Hp1836]

One of the more common sea cucumbers is the tigers tail. I hear and read frequently it is excellent at keeping the sand clean. Lfs always has a couple and sells many. My question is about their toxicity. Most (if not all) cucumbers seem to be able to nuke a tank if they die. I hear both yes and no on that with the tigerstail cucumber. Yet people clearly still keep the tigers tail often. My confusion is if they die naturally. say end of their lifespan do they still nuke a tank? Or is it only if they get into a powerhead, something attacks them, etc.

 

[UncommonSense]

Or is it only if they get into a powerhead, something attacks them, etc.

This seems to be the primary cause of toxin release, as it was explained to me!

here’s where I learned this from (post #30):

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nudibranch-id-friend-or-foe.1127183/page-2

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I've had a couple of cucumbers go missing in my tank, presumably dead, nothing ever happened. I know a few people with the same experience. I suppose it can happen, but as you say, so many people keep them they are common in every LFS, but we don't hear reports about it, we don't see forum posts about it. I see warnings all over the internet that cucumbers can nuke your tank, but try to find actual cases, they are very rare.

 

[vlangel]

I have had several cucumbers and have never had a problem with them dying and nuking a tank. They do an excellent job with sand cleaning. This Karl, my current cucumber.

 

[exnisstech]

I had a tiger tail that split several times. I didn't even know they split untill I found one in a sock. They eventually disappeared but there was no toxin released that I'm aware of. I think one of those things that can happened but doesn't that often.

 

[Dogeatbird]

Yes, if sufficiently stressed, a cucumber may release a toxin. Especially the filter feeding varieties,(Yellow,pink, green,(Colochirus spp.) Sea Apples) Tigertails generally are safe.
Remember that any organism that passes in a closed container can foul the space. So depending on system volume yes even a nontoxic biomass can become toxic.

 

[Sam7]

There pretty tank safe i have found..... even better in a salad or with just salt on them. I have the black variety...he poops nice white sand non stop

 

[BryanM]

One of the more common sea cucumbers is the tigers tail. I hear and read frequently it is excellent at keeping the sand clean. Lfs always has a couple and sells many. My question is about their toxicity. Most (if not all) cucumbers seem to be able to nuke a tank if they die. I hear both yes and no on that with the tigerstail cucumber. Yet people clearly still keep the tigers tail often. My confusion is if they die naturally. say end of their lifespan do they still nuke a tank? Or is it only if they get into a powerhead, something attacks them, etc.

Nuked tank is why I do not have any. I wish they weren't so problematic, even though it is rare.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Nuked tank is why I do not have any. I wish they weren't so problematic, even though it is rare.

This is why I fear having one. I have heard too many horror stories of people having their tanks be nuked by these things

 

[exnisstech]

I have no doubt the dangers are real but I think they are exaggerated by the ability of anything posted online being repeated over and over by people who are just repeating something they read not experienced. I suppose in a very small tank with a fish that is picking on them and they die it's more likely. I don't think they release toxin if they just die of starvation or something similar. My understanding is they only release toxin when threatened. But that's info I gathered online so I suppose it could be as unreliable as the reports of tanks being nuked.
I keep a Sea Apple but is has only been in the tank for 5 months but I have no fish that will bother it.

 

[spsick]

I’ve had a couple through the years and they have been bulletproof. Even forgot one if a bucket for 2 days during a tank transfer and it did just fine for like 5 years. Had 1 split into 2 and carry on. When they died they just shrunk until I knew it was time to toss them before any “nuking”.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I have three, a yellow, a black one and a Floridian. All are doing great!

I encourage you to give them a try.

Fun little creatures that clean the sand.

The Floridian has been with me for nearly 2 years; yep he came from Florida. The yellow is tiny and I have him since last June. The black one is the largest of them and has been with me for about 3 months. He works 24/7 and growing fast, the other 2 only work at night. I might have to give him a raise.

I'll try to snap some pics.