Safely move a cucumber?

[kstripp]

After disappearing for several weeks, my sea cucumber just turned up in the sump today.
I've heard both here and elsewhere on the web that cucumbers can pose quite a threat to the tank if they are sufficiently stressed by expelling toxins or even evisceration.

This article even notes that sometimes just a gentle collection seemed to trigger evisceration

Aquarium Invertebrates: Sea Cucumbers – Part II

Personally, I do not think that there is anything wrong with keeping sea cucumbers in a reef tank as long as you take the necessary precautions to protect them from an untimely death. I keep at least one sea cucumber in every one of my own reef tanks.

reefs.com

Any suggestions on how to move it back to the display tank without undue stress? I would assume simply netting him is not the way to go. Maybe trying to nudge him in to a bowl and use that to carry him back to the display?

 

[najer]

After disappearing for several weeks, my sea cucumber just turned up in the sump today.
I've heard both here and elsewhere on the web that cucumbers can pose quite a threat to the tank if they are sufficiently stressed by expelling toxins or even evisceration.

This article even notes that sometimes just a gentle collection seemed to trigger evisceration

Aquarium Invertebrates: Sea Cucumbers – Part II

Personally, I do not think that there is anything wrong with keeping sea cucumbers in a reef tank as long as you take the necessary precautions to protect them from an untimely death. I keep at least one sea cucumber in every one of my own reef tanks.

reefs.com

Any suggestions on how to move it back to the display tank without undue stress? I would assume simply netting him is not the way to go. Maybe trying to nudge him in to a bowl and use that to carry him back to the display?

I would use a jug or a bowl.

 

[Paul B]

I would use a jug or a bowl.

I would use a salad bowl. OK,, Never mind. I would just pick it up and move it. They are not very delicate creatures.

 

[kstripp]

I would use a jug or a bowl.

Well, that's what we're trying, but he has adhered himself quite firmly to the wall of the sump, and seems to have no intention to let go.

 

[AcanSkywalker]

Leave him right where he is, at least until he decides to let go on his own! Forcing him off the wall can and likely will lead to a stress situation where Mr. Sea Cucumber having had enough may just decide to nuke your entire system, killing most everything you've kept. Leave him be, he'll be just as happy right there in your sump! After all this if you'd still like to keep Sea Cucumbers go ahead and purchase another for the tank. On the other hand if you feel you want to be done with Sea Cucumbers forever, which I highly suggest, start by disconnecting your sump from the system, next, gently as possible, nudge Mr. Sea Cucumber into a holding tank or bucket with nothing inside except tank water, and a heater if needed. Should he survive the move, or not, bring him back to whomever sold him to you for a refund and to ask them why they hadn't warned you about Mr. Sea Cucumbers high potential for bringing a holocaust to you and your salty friends home.