atlantic sea cucumber question

[coltsfan80]

i sent my husband to get a good sand sifter, i was expecting some snails or a a goby, but he brought home a sand sifting cucumber, i have read that these things can poison a tank. should I return it? this thing also likes to float to the top of the tank.. i have thought it was dead like 3 times, but i fish it out, set it on a rock and it crawls away....any idea on why it floats to the top, ? is it likely to poison my tank? and since it plays dead...how can i tell if it is dead?

 

[Paintbug]

most sand sifter cukes are Holothuria sp. these wont wipe out your tank if they die. however if they get sucked into a powerhead, or something eats the flesh, then you may have a problem. i dont know what would cause it to float to the top of the water. it may have some air trapped inside the body. hopefully it will pass, you may need to give it a little squeeze. any chance of getting a pic of the cuke?

 

[coltsfan80]

i will try to get a pic, it likes to take off under the rockwork, that is if it isnt floating around...

 

[Paintbug]

when you say floating, do you mean tumbling or floating around the top?