Cucumbers Are Evil

bluespotjawfish · 10-03-2007, 08:03 PM

My 29 gallon tank was poisoned by my pink cucumber today. Be careful if you keep these guys, especially in a small tank!

Anyone want to help us all understand the toxins released by these guys?

sasquatch · 10-03-2007, 08:15 PM

, how bad Lorraine?

bluespotjawfish · 10-03-2007, 08:23 PM

I am very fortunate that this happened right at feeding time. Because I was right there, I only lost two of the four fish in the tank and several members of the cleaning crew. The other two fish were definitely affected by this as well, but have since recovered fully. I did an immediate 80% WC and added additional carbon. I always run a good amount of carbon on my tanks because of these types of critters, but the carbon I had in the tank already seems to have done very little to minimize the damage. None of the corals were lost. I don't know if that is because I was so quick to respond or if the toxins don't affect them. I was of course concerned about my drastic WC affecting them. I was lucky enough to have water ready to go. I am a firm believer in being prepared for an emergency WC and situations like this reconfirm why.

sasquatch · 10-03-2007, 08:27 PM

Good catch! have a cookie and some milk lol.

Woodstock · 10-03-2007, 09:01 PM

Sorry for your losses but it sounds like it could have been much worse!

Do you have any pics of your cucumber? I have tiger tail cucumbers. One I have had for a long time with no issues but now I am worried.

Dentoid · 10-03-2007, 11:01 PM

OMG Lorraine!

That just rots! So sorry for the losses. Those damn cucks are a ticking time bomb. I have a Tigertail that taxes my every nerve.

I will cry now!

Techno-Vicki · 10-03-2007, 11:06 PM

I have had 4 of the yellow ones for about 2 and a half years with no problems; I have even almost killed one once and was very nervous, but all went well. I don't know. I am interested in this thread and would like to know more about the different species - do they have different levels of toxicity? I would bet mine are on the low end just because they have been around for so long and with no negative repercussions.

lcstorc · 10-03-2007, 11:15 PM

So sorry to hear about this Lorraine. Good thing you were there and were able to minimize the damage. I hope everybody recovers.

Dentoid · 10-03-2007, 11:34 PM

Vicki, my understanding is that the Holothuria floridana (Tigertail) species from the Caribbean are the least likely to eviscerate and foul the tank.

Saltwater Noob · 10-04-2007, 12:48 AM

bump just added one to my tank are they bad?

Techno-Vicki · 10-04-2007, 01:08 AM

Backing up a bit, I am sorry for your losses lorraine. You are wise to be so prepared! Dentoid, know any good threads that thoroughly discuss cucumbers?

bluespotjawfish · 10-04-2007, 10:48 AM

I am just glad I had a basic understanding that they could be toxic if they die. I had a tigertail that I bought from a lfs. They told me that they can do this if they die, but that they are tough and so there would have to be something horribly wrong with the tank anyway for that to happen. From this, I became aware of the potential hazard and immediately picked up on what was going on. Had the lfs not advised me (and if I wasn't there), I would have lost more.

The pink guy is shown near the bottom of this photo. He is now in my fuge but I don't think I will be keeping him. He is injured, but seems to be doing well for now. Ironically my daughter had told me a few days ago that she didn't want it in her tank any more, but I left it there (because she stole it from me and had to have it). I have two black ones (one in the fuge and one in the display), and an orange one in the display as well. I think all but the orange one will be removed. It always stays in the exact spot where I can see it.

bluespotjawfish · 10-04-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

You are wise to be so prepared!

Having a bucket of salt water already mixed up has saved the life of something in my tank more than once! Mr. Palani was taking his last breath in QT when all my other fish died and I scooped him up and plopped him right into that bucket! He was so grateful!

framerguy · 10-04-2007, 11:05 AM

I looked up cucumbers last night and found that most of them are able to release their internal organs into the tank, polluting it. It's a defense mechanism and in the wild it deters but usually doesn't kill anything, then they grow new organs. In our closed systems it can be fatal to other fish and inverts. The only one I could find that hasn't been associated with any "known" tank crashes is the Yellow Cucumber. P.S. blue leg hermit crabs will attack them so if you have a cuke, don't keep bluelegs.

Woodstock · 10-04-2007, 11:37 AM

Thanks Greg. I have the 'yellow tiger tail cucumbers' so I think my reef is safe. That is what I have read also.

Here is a pic of one of my tiger tails...

10-03-2007, 08:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Tridacna maxima Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 4,668 View Gallery Karma Komment	Cucumbers Are Evil My 29 gallon tank was poisoned by my pink cucumber today. Be careful if you keep these guys, especially in a small tank! Anyone want to help us all understand the toxins released by these guys? __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

10-03-2007, 08:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil , how bad Lorraine?

10-03-2007, 08:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Tridacna maxima Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 4,668 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil I am very fortunate that this happened right at feeding time. Because I was right there, I only lost two of the four fish in the tank and several members of the cleaning crew. The other two fish were definitely affected by this as well, but have since recovered fully. I did an immediate 80% WC and added additional carbon. I always run a good amount of carbon on my tanks because of these types of critters, but the carbon I had in the tank already seems to have done very little to minimize the damage. None of the corals were lost. I don't know if that is because I was so quick to respond or if the toxins don't affect them. I was of course concerned about my drastic WC affecting them. I was lucky enough to have water ready to go. I am a firm believer in being prepared for an emergency WC and situations like this reconfirm why. __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

10-03-2007, 08:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil Good catch! have a cookie and some milk lol.

10-03-2007, 09:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 24,365 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil Sorry for your losses but it sounds like it could have been much worse! Do you have any pics of your cucumber? I have tiger tail cucumbers. One I have had for a long time with no issues but now I am worried. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

10-03-2007, 11:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dentoid Smile Maker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 11,214 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil OMG Lorraine! That just rots! So sorry for the losses. Those damn cucks are a ticking time bomb. I have a Tigertail that taxes my every nerve. I will cry now! __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

10-03-2007, 11:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Techno-Vicki Dancing Mandarins Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sanger, CA (on Kings River) Posts: 1,136 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil I have had 4 of the yellow ones for about 2 and a half years with no problems; I have even almost killed one once and was very nervous, but all went well. I don't know. I am interested in this thread and would like to know more about the different species - do they have different levels of toxicity? I would bet mine are on the low end just because they have been around for so long and with no negative repercussions. __________________ AKA - "Speedy" Extreme Reef Addition Videos of Mandarins, reef tank, and "His Majesty's" DIY water changer http://www.murrayproductions.org/Ree...RM_videos.html "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

10-03-2007, 11:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 22,544 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil So sorry to hear about this Lorraine. Good thing you were there and were able to minimize the damage. I hope everybody recovers. __________________ Peace LYNN Quote for the day courtesy of Big Al Basically it comes down to this... You RUSH it.... you CRASH IT!! Original member of Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

10-03-2007, 11:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dentoid Smile Maker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 11,214 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil Vicki, my understanding is that the Holothuria floridana (Tigertail) species from the Caribbean are the least likely to eviscerate and foul the tank. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

10-04-2007, 12:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
Saltwater Noob I'm Learning Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Port Richey, Fl Posts: 367 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil bump just added one to my tank are they bad? __________________ 65 gal Reef Tank 8 gal sump aquaC remora Skimmer w MJ 1200 pump Hydro #3 for flow MJ1200 for flow Current Extreme Pro 6 Bulb T5 Setup Live Stock Yellow Tang - Six Line - Clown - and about 50 red leg hermits - 25 snails - 2 star fish and 2 cucumbers. Corals zoo's and GSP and shrooms surge return pump

10-04-2007, 01:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
Techno-Vicki Dancing Mandarins Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sanger, CA (on Kings River) Posts: 1,136 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil Backing up a bit, I am sorry for your losses lorraine. You are wise to be so prepared! Dentoid, know any good threads that thoroughly discuss cucumbers? __________________ AKA - "Speedy" Extreme Reef Addition Videos of Mandarins, reef tank, and "His Majesty's" DIY water changer http://www.murrayproductions.org/Ree...RM_videos.html "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

10-04-2007, 11:05 AM	#14 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 4,339 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil I looked up cucumbers last night and found that most of them are able to release their internal organs into the tank, polluting it. It's a defense mechanism and in the wild it deters but usually doesn't kill anything, then they grow new organs. In our closed systems it can be fatal to other fish and inverts. The only one I could find that hasn't been associated with any "known" tank crashes is the Yellow Cucumber. P.S. blue leg hermit crabs will attack them so if you have a cuke, don't keep bluelegs. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon mangrove/seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/reef-chronicles/31882-akwareum-too.html

10-04-2007, 11:37 AM	#15 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 24,365 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cucumbers Are Evil Thanks Greg. I have the 'yellow tiger tail cucumbers' so I think my reef is safe. That is what I have read also. Here is a pic of one of my tiger tails... __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

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