Tiger Tail Cucumber question

[stephish]

I picked up a Tiger Tail cuke on Saturday, he was about 4" long and 1.5" in diameter at the lfs. When I got home he was about 9" long and 2" in diameter, he's back down to normal size now. My question is now he looks like he's shedding a bit of the outer layer of tissue, is this because he over expanded? is there anything I can do to help it heal?

Thanks!

 

[graveyardworm]

The shedding is normal, they will do this from time to time. So is the expansion/contraction. What acclimation proceedure did you use?

BTW thats a very nice looking tigertail.

 

[stephish]

Thank you! I thought he was pretty handsome myself.

I temperature acclimated (floated) for 45 minutes and then took out 1/4 cup of water and added 1/4 cup tank water. Did the water switch thing 8 times over 2 hours and then get him a net and set him on the sand.

I'm keeping a very close on eye on him as he's my first experience with something that can kill my entire tank. Makes me a bit nervous but I couldn't resist him.

 

[graveyardworm]

I'm keeping a very close on eye on him as he's my first experience with something that can kill my entire tank. Makes me a bit nervous but I couldn't resist him.

Myth, a dead tigertail is no more harmful to your tank than a dead fish of equal size. If the tank your tigertail is in is the 20g then there may not be enough food for it.

 

[stephish]

Really on the food? he's my only sand sifter. If I get to where I think he's getting ahead of the tank is there something I can feed him?

I'm currently feeding marine gold pellets and brine nightly for the fish. I alternate nights on marine snow and roti feast for the softies and inverts. Will he eat either of those? or is he strictly detritus?

Thank you for your help! I normally thoroughly research before I buy but I will admit he was somewhat of an impulse. Our rc meeting was at a lfs and I was planning on getting a sandsifting starfish and several recommended the cuke instead and I really liked him.

 

[graveyardworm]

The cuke is way better than the starfish in the respect of not eating all the life from your sand bed.

Here is what Ron Shimek has to say in Marine Invertebrates regarding diet.
"Herbivore. Ingests sediments and eats diatoms, other microalgae, and bacteria. A deep sand bed is necessary for good health."

"Large tanks, 100 gallons or larger"

"Maximum size: Up to 6.5 feet (2m) long; most smaller."

So I would assume the 100g tank is for larger specimens, aslong as yours remains small, I would guess under a foot your tank may be okay as long as food remains available. The marine snow and rotifeast may help if it can get enough, or if it helps to produce algae on the sand bed.

He also makes mention that it can release a toxin if bothered by hermit crabs, and they should be removed.