[Raymond3457]

I was thinking of adding a cucumber as part of my clean up crew. I like the fact of getting "differnt " kinds of things for my reef. I was just wondering if anybody had any info or opions on them. Don't see much posted on them.

[RyanG]

I would wait until your tank is well established (at least a year)

[Raymond3457]

Just wondering why? Are they hard to keep? Need that much time to have the amount of food needed?

[luciafam]

I added one when my tank was about 3 1/2 months old. It has done fine. Does not move around much, which worried me. But then I read that mostly they filter food and find a nice place to hang out. Mine does not seem to be the type that rummages through the sand, which I actually would have preferred. I think mine is a knobby one. It is orange and has little knobs on it and then kind of a top like a carrot, but it is orange instead.

[medic]

I have two and they seem to being really well. They move all over the tank siffting the sand. I don't have any complaints at this time.

[Reef-Daddy]

:eek: I have avoided them for two reasons. Most are never or rarely seen which leads to the second point... and most important, as a defensive reaction, or in response to severe stress, they may expel part of their internal organs (viscera) through the anus. The ejected viscera are sloughed, and if the animal had been in prior good health and the eviscerating stress is removed, the animal will grow a new set of internal organs. If this happens in a well-aerated or well skimmed aquarium, and the eviscerated guts are removed from the tank (if you noticed this and catch it in time), generally nothing drastic will occur. On the other hand, if the eviserating cucumber is of the wrong species, some of your animals will be poisoned and may die. So choose your specimen carefully...

[bspstang]

I have had many sea cucumbers and I have never had a problem

[Reef-Daddy]

I only wanted to post the facts... many have them and they do well. I also know someone who lost several thousand dollars investment because he didn't do his research.

[Raymond3457]

Ok, If I get one. What would be a good one to get. I was looking at the tiger cucumber. I think that is what it is called.

[Fisher]

I helped my parents set up a 125 reef with the help of the lfs (very dependable). Their tank is about 2 months old and the first patch of live rock, we had finished curing ourselves. About two weeks ago, the lfs advised to purchase 2 as part of the clean up crew. They are all over the tank, from top to bottom and seem to be doing very well, but note, they only have soft corals so far and no fish.

[Raymond3457]

Originally Posted by Fisher

I helped my parents set up a 125 reef with the help of the lfs (very dependable). Their tank is about 2 months old and the first patch of live rock, we had finished curing ourselves. About two weeks ago, the lfs advised to purchase 2 as part of the clean up crew. They are all over the tank, from top to bottom and seem to be doing very well, but note, they only have soft corals so far and no fish.

Hey fisher what kind are they?

[Fisher]

I wrote the names down, but I forgot it at work, so I will post it tonight. It is ironic that we are talking about the cucumbers, because my dad said he lost one yesterday. It was stuck to his power head. We don know if it died then got stuck or crawled onto it. We had discussed why it died and we think it starved to death. The lps said they would mostly cycle through the sand and they did for about three days, then they wend to the top of the tank. We think in search for food, remember, their tank is only three month old, with no fish, so no feeding habits have started yet. A couple of things for you to research; 1. is your tank established enough and 2. if it is not, can they be directly fed if neccessary, 3. are all of your intakes covered? We did not see any of its' insides sticking out, so we are assuming it died then got stuck to the powerhead. We are watching to see if any of the other items are changing from a possible toxin release. So far, everything looks good. My parents still have one left, which is much thinner than when they bought it so they are trying to feed it. I will keep you posted.