Grape caulerpa

[Fishie Nut]

Newbie question

I've got some Caulerpa racemosa in my sump. I put a small clump in there with some Chaeto. The chaeto is GONE. The caulerpa is gowning like crazy. Lights 24/7.

When do I have to trim or thin out the fuge?
If I freeze it, and add it to a homemade food, will it retain its nourishment? Is this a waste of time; should I just feed some to my Tang and Foxface and dispose of the rest?

Thanks for the help.

 

[musty baby]

Dispose, you'll have plenty growing later.

 

[graveyardworm]

Caulerpa isnt good for use as fish food, it contains a toxin called caulerpenyne. Most herbivorous dont eat it atleast not in quantity, anf if they do it can be bad for them. Your best to freeze it and toss it.

One question/point. Isnt most if not all caulerpa illegal to posses in CA? If so I would take all necessary precautions ensuring it is dead and dispose of it promptly.

I just checked and caulerpa racemosa IS one of the banned species in CA.

 

[Fishie Nut]

I purchased it at a Very reputable LFS, who, if it was illegal, would not sell it. Perhaps it's a different species. I'll have to check. I thought it was grape caulerpa.

I'll check it out on Sunday. I'll be at the LFS.

 

[SuperNerd]

Fishie Nut:

Got a pic of that caulerpa you're talking about?

 

[Fishie Nut]

Caulerpa racemosa

Caulerpa racemosa

I sure do.

[/IMG]

It grows and grows and grows. I can thin it out every week.

 

[SuperNerd]

Thanks Fishie Nut I agree with GYW in terms of disposal. Do NOT simply flush it down the toilet. There was a big problem in the past with someone supposedly doing that and a whole lot of wildlife got killed off. I don't know the current details on this though. Hopefully someone else will pipe in.

Sarah (Samala) maybe???

FYI grape caulerpa is caulerpa racemosa: http://species.fishindex.com/species_2754caulerpa_racemosa_grape_caulerpa.html

graveyardworm: Got a link of that list of illegal caulerpa?

 

[Fishie Nut]

No problem. I FREEZE it and then put it in my Green trash can for collection.

 

[graveyardworm]

CALIFORNIA CODES
FISH AND GAME CODE
SECTION 2300




2300. (a) No person shall sell, possess, import, transport,
transfer, release alive in the state, or give away without
consideration the salt water algae of the Caulerpa species:
taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes, floridana,
ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person may possess, for
bona fide scientific research, as determined by the department, upon
authorization by the department, the salt water algae of the Caulerpa
species: taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes,
floridana, ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis.
(c) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person
who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of not less
than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) for each violation.

 

[graveyardworm]

Looks to me as though you've got C. Peltata. Not on the restricted species list.

Racemosa

Peltata

 

[Fishie Nut]

Whew!

 

[SuperNerd]

I've seen racemosa start out looking like Fishie Nut's and then eventually looking like the grape caulerpa in the links.

 

[Fishie Nut]

If it starts looking like racemosa, I'll just chuck it -- or sell it to someone in another state where it's legal -- and get some Chaetomorpha. The cost of having an illegal "drug" is not worth the trouble. There's less of a penalty for marijuana.

I'm going to bring some to my MASLAC meeting on Sat and see what they think.

Thanks for all the help.