Re: Possible sea cucumber problem - 6/18/08
Thanks for the prompt response. I've had a few hours to further research the situation, here's an update:
1. Acclimation occurred over the entire morning yesterday:
a) each bag was floated for 1 hour; followed by b) adding tank water to the bag (1 pt tank : 2 pts bag volume) and another hour of floating; followed by c) emptying 1/2 of that water (into sink), topping off w tank water, and floating for another 1/2 hour; and finally d) adding critter to tank while minimizing the introduction of baggy water. Snails and hermit crab were rinsed under tapwater too.
<If anything, this might have been too long, but since you had them floating temperature shouldn't have been a problem. I doubt acclimation was the problem.>
2. Nobody else was dead this morning. Yay!
<Glad to hear it!>
3. I no longer attribute the shrimps' demise to the cucumber. A more likely suspect would be the jelly's.
They'd shed lots of slime (nematocysts?) in transit, and 2 out of 3 had actually LOST THEIR MANUBRIA...incidentally, the injured jelly's and detached mouth-pieces are still pulsating on the tank's floor. I now hypothesize that the shrimp were knocked off by free-floating nematocysts.
<Very possible! Cnidarians can shed a lot of stinging cells under stress.>
4. I consider the Cassiopeia's doomed if they remain in this tank, and a hazard to whatever strolls past them.
<Both correct.>
I'm setting up a temporary 10gal w/ steep live sand "banks" on either end, and setting up a weak submersible filter on the bottom to create a pseudo-circular, vertical current.
I've got some high-power full-spectrum fluorescents (used on lizards) I can put on a timer, too. Meanwhile, I'll see if anyone around here wants em (LFS, Bio dept, aquarium...) and, worse case scenario, I'll preserve them for our teaching collection (I waste NOTHING around here!).
<Sounds like a good plan.>
5. More research has me concerned about the Featherdusters and predation from: red and blue-legged hermits, brittle star, and the urchin. Real, or paranoia? Time will tell...
<There is certainly risk, but they should be fine. Hermit crabs will eat just about anything, given the chance, but as long as there is easier food to be found, they probably won't be going after something the have to catch.>
The determining factors in choosing Ward's over the LFS:
very good prices (surprising, actually),
guaranteed delivery, a 20% off coupon and an established tax-exempt account.
<Understood.>
The lack of documentation was acceptable, since I'm quite capable of researching various problems,
<Clearly. You definitely did your homework before you wrote this reply!>
but I'm ashamed to have assumed that their sets were compatible...and to have created this Darwinian situation.
<Selective pressure notwithstanding, compatibility and mortality are perpetual problems in aquaria. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over your assumption- it is reasonable to expect that sets of specimens from a reputable supply company would be compatible...that said, often time accuracy is sacrificed to Mammon in this hobby.>
I should have known better, given that they included Aiptasia anemones in one set!
<Probably helps keep the price down...and, given they aren't overfed they can be fascinating. You might be interested in information re aiptasia culturing/filtering...use of aiptasia to clean water.>
Best regards,
-Jack
<The same! Benjamin>