Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Florida, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Natural Environment: Inhabits seagrass beds and mangroves and usually seen at depths between 3 - 25 feet (1 - 8 m).
General Husbandry: Occasionally available in the trade.
Suitable only for well-established, large aquariums having wide open, unencumbered fine sand beds, as this cucumber ingests sand and feeds on the microorganisms and organic matter in the bed and on the sand particles.
Sinking shrimp pellets are a good food source should there not be enough detritus coated material in the aquarium.
Some angelfishes and triggerfishes are not good tankmates.
Also, keep in mind; cukes (cucumbers) are very vulnerable to sudden salinity/specific gravity changes. (Salinity is the correct term for measuring a natural salt level in the wild, and specific gravity is the correct term for artificially prepared seawater.) Therefore, acclimate carefully by slipping the specimen out of the shipping bag into a separate acclimating container before transferring it to your aquarium. Do not allow the water in the shipping bag to enter the aquarium as it may contain toxins.
A good sand mover and recommended for reef tanks.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Aspidochirotida
Family: Holothuriidae
Genus: Holothuria
FYI: Will not survive in newly established aquariums, as there is simply not enough detritus in the sand bed for it to meet its nutritional needs.
Small specimens are more maintainable/longer lifespan in aquaria than large specimens.
Must be removed if aquarium will be treated with copper-based medications.
One per aquarium so as not to limit its food supply.
When selecting a new specimen, be sure the body is free of tears, cuts, sores, or odd colored areas, as damaged specimens rarely regain their heath in closed systems.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Diet: Omnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: No
Invertebrate Safe: No
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Hardiness: Moderate
Temperature Range: 72 - 83°F (22 - 28°C)
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Lighting: Unaffected by intensity
Water Movement: WM 1 - 2
Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025
pH: 8.0 - 8.4
