Colochirus anceps

(Selenka, 1867)

Spiny Sea Cucumber, Pink Cucumber, Pink and Green Cucumber

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa and Madagascar to Malaysia to northern Australia.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits a wide range of environments and usually seen at depths between 3 - 65 feet (1 - 20 m).

General Husbandry: Occasionally available in the trade.

This small cucumber is a suspension-feeder, getting its nutrition in a similar way as do Sea Apples.

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: Colochirus

FYI: Spends most of its time on rocks awaiting a supply of food to drift its ways.

Not a sand stirrer and sometimes reproduces in aquaria by fission (splitting in two).

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!)

Was previously listed as Pentacta anceps.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Diet: Planktivore/ Suspension 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