Baseodiscus or Lolyfish--confused

[Aquarist007]

Perhaps someone can help here--this is a post from the "check here before purchasing fish" thread

The original poster was trying to find information on :
"I have a question about the tigertail sea cucumber.
I've been waiting for my LFS to be able to order it, unfortunately it is never in stock. They recently just called me and said they can get a tigertail cucumber colored (baseodiscus species). As I tried to research this species, I could not find any info on it. I did come across one site that said it was also called a Lollyfish, but that was all it said. Do you know of this species? Would it be ok to substitute it for the tigertail (holothura species)?
Thanks for your input!"

"
This is confusing to say the least. I've tried to look everywhere for the Baseodiscus species with no luck. Quality Marine is the only site it seems to have it listed. They do not have a picture or much of a description for it though.
http://www.qualitymarine.com/Product...cumber-Colored
Then when I went to PetEducation to search it, I got a listing for the Black Sea Cucumber, but it is also the Holothuridae sp.
http://www.peteducation.com/article....+1899&aid=2114
I thought at first that my LFS was pulling my leg, but it is on the Quality Marine site. I was hoping maybe you had heard of this species, and that they are similar if not the same to the holothuria tigertail sp. I plan to go to local bookstore tomorrow to see if I can find it in a SW book. I am very interested now in finding more info. Again, thanks for your time "

 

[LeslieH]

Sounds like Quality Marine needs some quality control on their identifications. Baseodiscus is a genus of ribbon worm, phylum Nemertea!

 

[Aquarist007]

Sounds like Quality Marine needs some quality control on their identifications. Baseodiscus is a genus of ribbon worm, phylum Nemertea!

thank you---I suspected they were using the wrong species name when I tried to do some research on this

 

[thebkramer]

Thank you so much for your help! I just looked up the ribbon worm...ewww!
They look nothing like the tigertail! My LFS orders from Quality Marine, think I should let them know? haha..like it would matter. I just came across this site also and its quite humorous. At the top its labeled as the baseodiscus, then its labeled as holothuria, then again as baseodiscus!!
http://www.freshmarine.com/tiger-tail-cucumber.html
After your id, I am so glad I became a part of RC and know better now not to believe in all things LFS! I wonder if I had LFS order it, if it would turn out to actually be the tigertail?? hmmm...not worth the risk I guess.
So is there a tigertail cucumber colored? Or are they trying to make it a new species with a more expensive price? lol...

 

[LeslieH]

The whole thing is a little baffling. "Tigertail cucumber colored"? All of them are colored.... Maybe they mean a color variety different than the usual one. Could also be another species, hard to tell from what they say. Judging by the image it might be in the genus Holothuria and the typical "tigertail" in the trade is Holothuria hilla.

I'm willing to bet that you would get a cuke if you ordered one despite the name.

Checking out some of their other offerings, I see
- for Calcinus elegans (hermit with blue & black striped legs) they use the name Phimochirus operculatus (hermit with red legs & blue chela with white spots)
- for Stenorhynchus (arrow crab) they have a picture of a Dardanus probably gemmatus (anemone hermit crab)
- for Xenocarcinus (a distinctive crab found on gorgonians, black coral & hydroids) they use a picture of the Riccordia decorator crab Cyclocoeloma tuberculata; the description is of a decorator
- for Coenobita (land hermit crab) they have a picture of Calcinus seurati
-under the name Dardanus megistros (white spotted hermit) they have a picture of Dardanus guttatus (blue knuckle hermit)
-for a Coenobita which they call a mexican red tip hermit they have a picture of something in a different genus
- the picture used for Percnon gibbesi looks more like a Grapsus
- the picture used for Calcinus elegans is another species

The crustacea are the worse but there are lots of mistakes in the other invert groups as well. I especially like this distribution "Norrisia norrisi originates from the Indo-Pacific region including Point Conception and California."

 

[thebkramer]

Thanks Leslie for all your help and insight! Now I know why so many things are mislabeled at my LFS! Out of around 20 employess, there are only 2 that I trust with their knowledge! Of course, they are hardly ever there!
This whole experience is quite interesting and informing!!
I am going to go ahead and have them order the "baseodiscus - tigertail cucumber colored" and see what I get. Its more curiousity than anything. Hopefully it will be the real tigertail and my search and wait will be over!
Thanks again!
And Thanks to Capn Hylinur for bringing me to you!!

 

[thebkramer]

Well...He turned out to be a Tigertail
here he is!!!

BTW..I was informed the Quality Marine is actually funded by DrsFoster&Smith!
I also found out that they are the only MAC certified distributor on the West Coast. (or so they say) My LFS told me they would also soon be MAC certified.
I gave my LFS that list of "wrongs" and she told me she would def! bring it to their attention! So...thanks again for all your help LeslieH!!