Sea Apple

The Sea Apple is a large, spectacularly colored filter feeding cucumber. It uses its tiny tube feet to attach itself to its environment in an area of high water flow, extending its feeding tentacles to catch tiny floating food particles from the water. It grows up to 8 inches long.

Covers over all intakes are required or the cucumber may accidently become sucked inside. Like other filter-feeding cucumbers its body contains holothurin toxin. This species may poison the water if dying or harassed by its tank mates. Butterflyfish, angelfish and other animals who pick on invertebrates should never be kept with the Sea Apple. A large water change and fresh carbon should be used if it is noticed a cucumber has died. Echinoderms such as cucumbers are extremely sensitive to changes in the water quality. It requires a well established aquarium and frequent additions of supplemental phytoplankton food. If it is starving it may shrink in size or lose its feeding tentacles, at which point food supply should be increased.