Black sea cucumber enquiry

[Jenz]

Hey
What depth of substrate is best for the sand-mopping/black sea cucumber? Is there any particular substrate best for this invert?
Thanks

 

[Roboson]

Any fine sand will do. Crushed coral would be a no go. I would recommend caribsea special grade (but I personally use their oolite sand).

A word of warning though, black cucumbers are more toxic than other cucumbers. Unlike some cucumbers who release sticky tubes as a defense mechanism, Black Sea cucumbers skip straight to shooting toxic red liquid, and their (also toxic) organs, into the water.

So with that in mind, I would have a deep sandbed. At least enough for the cucumber to bury itself. And I would stay far far away from from crabs or fish which may bother the cucumber or shift the sandbed.

 

[Jenz]

Any fine sand will do. Crushed coral would be a no go. I would recommend caribsea special grade (but I personally use their oolite sand).

A word of warning though, black cucumbers are more toxic than other cucumbers. Unlike some cucumbers who release sticky tubes as a defense mechanism, Black Sea cucumbers skip straight to shooting toxic red liquid, and their (also toxic) organs, into the water.

So with that in mind, I would have a deep sandbed. At least enough for the cucumber to bury itself. And I would stay far far away from from crabs or fish which may bother the cucumber or shift the sandbed.

Thanks for reply.
Re. Fish species what would you feel are not compatible? I am planning a predator tank with lionfish, snowflake moray, rabbitfish, tang ie Zebrasoma so and poss Harlequin tuskfish or weedy scorpion fish; would my plan for a black seacucumber be an unsuitable desire?

 

[Roboson]

I wouldn't. Cucumbers are always risky and require very peaceful tank mates. There are less toxic varieties that may work better. Or like any other invert.

With all of those things, if someone set the cucumber off, it's likely they'd all die. I'd pick a different invert.

 

[rayn]

I had a black chamber for a few years and it worked well with any fish I had in the tank. From peaceful to lions. Never tried when I had a eel. Never nuked my tank either.


Maybe I had good luck.

 

[Jenz]

Thank you for your advise.
LFS suggested for helping to manage the sandbed, then again they also encouraged a sand sifter starfish :-/
Guess its back to the drawing board for me