Sea Cucumber question

[Connie]

Can a sea cucumber be placed in the sump? I ask this because I have had mine for about 6 months and he stays on top of one of the power heads (thoroughly protected). I have moved him to the sand, but he goes right back up there. He is shrinking slightly, I believe because he isn't getting enough to eat. I am afraid to try to move him again because that little bugar is strong and I know I will hurt him if I pull too hard. I could also upset him and he could kill everything in my tank! Can someone make suggestions?

 

[Dave3112]

If you have a lot of detritus in your sump it should be fine as long as it can't get sucked into your return pump.

 

[Connie]

Thanks Dave!

 

[mikejrice]

Not all of them eat detritus. Do you know what kind you have?

Michael Rice
Marine Engineers Aquarium Blog
Sent from Tapatalk so excuse my poor English

 

[Connie]

This is it. Some kind of spiney cucumber.

 

[evanjah]

yah that one is a filter feeder for sure......not a detritus eating one

 

[nelson]

Maybe try to turn off that particular powerhead till he moves

 

[Connie]

Maybe try to turn off that particular powerhead till he moves

Thanks Nelson! I did as you suggested and he has moved!

 

[caudill187]

I wonder if he'd eat rotifers or newly hatched brine shrimp, phyto?

 

[Connie]

I wonder if he'd eat rotifers or newly hatched brine shrimp, phyto?

He strictly filter feeds. The largest thing I have seen him eat is cyclopeez. (Everything in my tank goes crazy for that stuff)

 

[KoleTang]

He was probably using the flow to his advantage to get the food from the water rushing by

 

[Otter_rs]

These cucumbers are netorious for doing this. They will climb as high as possible to the area with the most water current. If they are not happy, they will keep moving. Most of the time, these end up starving in most reef systems. They have a much better chance if you feed your corals small things like oyster eggs. If you can guarantee that it can not get sucked into a pump, the sump may be the best place for it. Blowing detritus off the rocks and from the corners of the sandbed every now and then can help it get stuff to eat as well.

 

[KoleTang]

Maybe spray it with some coral frenzy or reef chili every now and then.