Pseudocolochirus tricolor

(Sluiter, 1901)

Tri-color Sea Apple

Range: East Indian Ocean and Western Pacific and from Gulf of Bengal to the Philippines and Japan.

Size: 6 inches (15 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal reef-like rocky areas, usually covered in some form of algae.

General Husbandry: Often quite expensive, and uncommon in the trade.

Spends most of its time on rocks or side aquarium panels and is not a sand stirrer.

Provide preserved and live phytoplankton products in a cloud upstream from the specimen and allow water current to bring the food to it. Do not directly dose the specimen, as it will close and not capture the foodstuffs. Needs one or two daily feedings.

Do not house with triggerfishes or pufferfishes, and large size crabs, as they may/will pick on it.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Holothuroidea

Order: Dendrochirotida

Family: Cucumariidae

Genus: Pseudocolochirus

FYI: Must be removed if aquarium will be treated with copper-based medications.

Toxic when stressed or dies, therefore remove specimens that appear not to be doing well! (See the Introduction to this Section on Sea Cucumbers!)

Experience Level: Intermediate

Diet: Phytoplankton feeder

Temperament: Peaceful

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: No

Invertebrate Safe: No

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Hardiness: Moderate

Temperature Range: 72 - 83°F (22 - 28°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Lighting: Unaffected by intensity

Water Movement: WM 1 - 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4