Red & Black Cucumber (Holothuria sp.)

The Sea Cucumber, also known as the Edible Sea Cucumber, was first described by scientists in 1830. It has a long, pink to reddish-brown body, which is usually darker dorsally, often green or black.

It does well in a large aquarium if provided with ample room to roam. Generally, for every 3 inches of sea cucumber there should be 20 gallons of water. It prefers a thick sandy substrate so it can scour through the sand for organic foods. The Sea Cucumber will spend most of its time in the open, though it may carry a thin film of sand over its body.

Like other Sea Cucumbers, Holothuria sp. has the potential to poison an aquarium. The chances of this happening are very rare unless the animal is accidentally sucked into an uncovered pump intake or overflow boxes.

Be sure to acclimate properly and house with appropriate inhabitants. The drip-acclimation method is recommended to minimize exposure to fluctuating water parameters. The Sea Cucumber cannot tolerate high nitrate levels or copper-based medications.

It is extremely difficult to breed in an aquarium, and has no distinguishing characteristics to help differentiate it from its mate.