Anyone with experience with Sea Slugs / Cucumbers?

[Swordsman82]

Looking at refreshing the clean-up crew in my tank. I usually have a few dozen nassarius snails and my pistol shrimp of keeping my sand bed stirred up. Over time I have lost a bunch of snails and after several years my Pistol Shrimp died. I am looking for option to turn the sand bed.

I hear Tiger Cucumbers will do the job pretty great and won't steal / bury all my sand bed corals like the pistol shrimp did. Anyone have experience with them? I know some can basically nuke tanks. Was also looking at the yellow ones to filter water and look cool.

 

[afboundguy]

I would mainly be worried about them getting sucked in a powerhead and would suggest getting an anemone guard at a minimum for them.

 

[GaryDN]

Cucumbers do a great job on the sand bed, I just picked up one (about a year ago) after moving the tank. had them before as well. never an issue as long as you keep the power heads covered as suggested

 

[nickeg79]

The yellow ones will find a spot on your rocks or glass. They don’t go near my powerheads or on the sandbed in my tank. I stressed one out moving it to a different tank and it split completely and is still two pieces that are living with no issues in the tank.

If you want a safer option you can get a sand sifting conch or two. The cucumbers are definitely effective and unless you have agressive fish or it gets stuck in a powerheads you should be fine. The cucumbers I’ve had never climb off the sandbed. I think there is minimal risk. I think sea apples are much worse and a bigger risk than a sea cucumber

 

[Swordsman82]

I would mainly be worried about them getting sucked in a powerhead and would suggest getting an anemone guard at a minimum for them.

I have been shopped around for a nem guard just in case. Do the sand shifting ones leave the sand bed?

 

[Swordsman82]

The yellow ones will find a spot on your rocks or glass. They don’t go near my powerheads or on the sandbed in my tank. I stressed one out moving it to a different tank and it split completely and is still two pieces that are living with no issues in the tank.

If you want a safer option you can get a sand sifting conch or two. The cucumbers are definitely effective and unless you have agressive fish or it gets stuck in a powerheads you should be fine. The cucumbers I’ve had never climb off the sandbed. I think there is minimal risk. I think sea apples are much worse and a bigger risk than a sea cucumber

How hard was the care for the yellow cucumber? I tried to find stuff online but there is basically nothing out there.

I will get a nem guard if I get them. Everyone is suggesting it is the best thing to do. Do the sand shifting ones leave the sand bed enough for it to be an issue?

 

[nickeg79]

The yellows are very easy and hardy. Mine split probably because it was stuck on a rock and my parameters were bad before I moved to a new tank with brand new water. No care needed. They feed off the water column. I sometimes dose phyto but definitely not daily.

I haven’t had a cucumber leave the sandbed. Maybe it’s because my tanks are not low nutrient and they could eat plenty from the sandbed. I think they only move off the sandbed because they can’t get enough food.

I have had one die without poisoning the tank. It wasn’t injured. I think it’s a low chance of issues honestly but when we get over confident in this hobby usually we get burnt.

 

[afboundguy]

I have been shopped around for a nem guard just in case. Do the sand shifting ones leave the sand bed?

Probably not but not worth the risk when compared to how relatively cheap the guards are.