cucumber pics/ ID please?

[soupysteve]

I bought this fella at the LFS last night. The owner said that he would filter feed and pretty much rarely move. The first pic is the front view, the second is the side view (or best I could take at the funny angle)

 

[soupysteve]

side view

 

[timsedwards]

ok did you research it before you bought it? im not going to teach an old dog new tricks if you have, but if you havent look up sea apple or cucumber on this forum and youll get the idea....
Tim.

 

[bang guy]

Gorgeous animal!
Generally, our aquariums don't have enough food in the water column for them and they slowly shrink in size.
They are not agressive but they have a defense mechanism that can kill all vertebrates in the aquarium almost instantly.

 

[jugger]

something that beautiful can be dangerous

 

[soupysteve]

Yes, I did read up on the cucumbers, but I don't think I have anything that would uset it enough for him to "puke his guts out". I was mainly more concerned about my brittle star - it likes to get "grabby" at night.
Thanks for the kind words, Bang! I knew I wanted to buy this creature when I saw the appendages on its "end" - it looks like it could try to blend in with my xenia...

 

[j21kickster]

- Glad you like it but i think the point was missed- It will eventually starve unless you are continously feeding with a fine plankton (which is a whole set of different problems)- I saw a sea apple starve over a period of a month- it takes time- but it will probably happen

 

[soupysteve]

Bang,
I hadn't considered what you said about not having enough food in my water. Should I put in some phytoplankton for it every now and then?
My feather duster seems to be growing fast and it is a filter feeder - do they filter feed the same thing?
Thanks again.

 

[soupysteve]

Kickster-
I occasionally squirt in a bit of Kent Phytoplex - which has Nannochloropsis, Tetraselmis, and Isochrysis in it. Would these be something the cucumber would consume?

 

[j21kickster]

every now and then might not be good enough- featherdusters are filterfeeders true- but cuces and apples are a whole different story. But i would try to take it back for something else- if it dies- that is trouble for your tank. But in the future- be sure you can identify all of its needs and make sure that your tank can meet those needs

 

[j21kickster]

the phytoplex couldnt hurt- but.....like mentioned

 

[soupysteve]

I guess I didn't put ENOUGH thought into the bad boy... I figured filter feeders are filter feeders - and my feather duster has been fine for months. I will wait and see if the guy has enough to eat in my tank or not before I return it.
Thanks for the additional information, guys!

 

[j21kickster]

sounds like a plan- if you want you could always gently squirt a few drops right in front of it when it is feding- wait a bit and the do it again

 

[soupysteve]

That's how I used to feed my zoanthids and feather duster when I first got them - I'll give that a shot. Thanks again.

 

[j21kickster]

Originally posted by SoupySteve
That's how I used to feed my zoanthids
Zoanthids are non responsive to phytoplankton

 

[bang guy]

If it's not getting enough to eat you should have plenty of warning. It will get smaller. Cucumbers have the ability to use their own flesh as food.

 

[synyster11]

I have had a sea apple for 2 years and it is half its original size. I would not recommend it because its just one more thing to worry about. And watch our for powerheads.