Sea cucumber concern

[jpnegrete14]

Found this in morning. Don’t know if it’s normal like a shrimp molting or if I have a problem on my hand. It’s my first sea cucumber so of course my mind goes to worse case scenario. Have read about the dangers of them poisoning the water if killed.

That being said every coral, fish, and invert are doing fine. RBTAs are opened and looking great.

Sea cucumber was introduced a week ago and has since just been crawling through the rock work. Only saw it on the sand bed once on its way to the rocks.

Red Sea test kit, Milwaukee refractometer, Hannah ULR phosphate, traceable calibrated thermometer.

Been tweaking my feeding schedule. I think that’s why my phosphate and nitrate are way low.

Salinity 35
Temp 78.6
pH 8.0
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrate 0.0
Phosphate 0.0

45gal cube 9 months old
Clownsx2
Starry Blenny
Banggai
Helfrichi fire fish
YWMG
Pistol shrimp
Cleaner shrimp
Peppermint shrimp
Hermit and emerald crabs
Snails

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not good. Discard rather than risk release of toxins in the tank
Their very touchy specimens

 

[jpnegrete14]

Not good. Discard rather than risk release of toxins in the tank
Their very touchy specimens

Dang. I can’t even find it. Is this like a code red emergency? Break down rocks to get to it and discard it or can I afford for to wait for it to poke its head out?

Also thanks for the speedy reply.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Dang. I can’t even find it. Is this like a code red emergency? Break down rocks to get to it and discard it or can I afford for to wait for it to poke its head out?

Also thanks for the speedy reply.

Its not at the point of waste away yet but retrieve at your soonest and inspect it again for any further deterioration ir movement

 

[jpnegrete14]

You have any idea as far as hours or days it will become toxic to the tank? Roughly. Like if I don’t see it in the next 12hrs. Just go find it.

The only reason I’m reluctant to go move around rocks now is because I had elbow surgery recently.

 

[jpnegrete14]

I see him! Should be an easy extraction. I’ll keep you posted

 

[jpnegrete14]

He looks fine. Weird. Not worth the risk huh

 

[jpnegrete14]

Pic in water

 

[jpnegrete14]

.

 

[jpnegrete14]

Just trying to give y’all a better idea of how it looks now. Maybe there’s clear signs of waste to the trained eye

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks a-ok
Offer it good water quality......
Temp 76-79
Salinity 1.024-1.026
Ph. 8.1-8.3
Moderate water flow

 

[jpnegrete14]

Looks a-ok
Offer it good water quality......
Temp 76-79
Salinity 1.024-1.026
Ph. 8.1-8.3
Moderate water flow

Glad it’s fine.

So just to be clear are you saying my current water parameters aren’t cutting it? Or you’re just making a point that good water quality is paramount?

 

[jpnegrete14]

Please don’t take my last message with a bad tone. I’m not offended. I just want to make sure I’m understanding correctly.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Glad it’s fine.

So just to be clear are you saying my current water parameters aren’t cutting it? Or you’re just making a point that good water quality is paramount?

Paramount, assuring you maintain good parameters for its survival

 

[jpnegrete14]

Paramount, assuring you maintain good parameters for its survival

Thank you for the insight! Really The only thing I’ve been significantly struggling with is maintaining a healthy amount of phosphate and nitrate without grossly overshooting or being way under :/

I always feel like once I start feeding enough where I’m getting .04ppm phosphate I run into algae problems. Then I cut back feeding and in turn it becomes so low it’s 0ppb

 

[vetteguy53081]

I

Thank you for the insight! Really The only thing I’ve been significantly struggling with is maintaining a healthy amount of phosphate and nitrate without grossly overshooting or being way under :/

I always feel like once I start feeding enough where I’m getting .04ppm phosphate I run into algae problems. Then I cut back feeding and in turn it becomes so low it’s 0ppb

Id rather have than high and no algae. T .04 will not have effect on cucumber. Yours appears to be a 3 row cucumber. Sea cucumbers serve an important role in the marine system serving as scavengers, as they recycle nutrients by breaking down organic matter found in the bedding that help bacteria further the degradation process.