Sea Cucumber question

Connie · Nov 15, 2011

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 · Nov 15, 2011

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 · Nov 16, 2011

Thanks Dave!

mikejrice · Nov 16, 2011

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 · Nov 16, 2011

This is it. Some kind of spiney cucumber.

evanjah · Jan 26, 2012

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

nelson · Jan 26, 2012

Maybe try to turn off that particular powerhead till he moves

Connie · Feb 8, 2012

nelson said:
Maybe try to turn off that particular powerhead till he moves

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

caudill187 · Feb 12, 2012

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

Connie · Feb 20, 2012

caudill187 said:
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 · Feb 21, 2012

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

Otter_rs · Feb 21, 2012

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.