Tiger tail sea cucumber
Holothuria hilla
Also known as Tigertail Sea Cucumber, Tiger Tail Cucumber
SaltwaterInvertebrate
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 17.7 in
- 45 cm
- Minimum tank
- 50 gal
- 190 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Holothuriidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific reefs and lagoons, living in and on sandy substrate among rock
Overview
The tiger tail sea cucumber is a peaceful, slow-moving sand cleaner for a large, mature saltwater tank. It is hardy in the right setup, but it is for experienced keepers.
Did you know
A dying tiger tail sea cucumber is treated as a tank emergency. If it is badly stressed, injured or killed, it can release holothurin, a toxic saponin potent enough to crash an entire closed aquarium.
Caring for the tiger tail sea cucumber
Keep one tiger tail sea cucumber in a large, stable, well-fed system of at least 50 gal (190 L). Give it a deep sand bed and rocky caves for shelter. Screen pump and overflow intakes so it cannot be sucked in and shredded.
Hold the water steady at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It is very sensitive to copper-based medications and to elevated nitrate.
It processes decomposing organic matter, diatoms and microfauna from the sand. It depends on an established tank with real detritus to eat, and it can starve in a tank without enough. It is rated reef safe with caution.
Good to know
Holothuria hilla is a sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It feeds by mopping detritus and microorganisms off the sand with sticky oral tentacles and passing them through its gut. That habit helps keep the sand bed clean and oxygenated.
In the wild
The tiger tail sea cucumber is a sand-bed detritivore of Indo-Pacific reefs and lagoons, living in and on sandy substrate among rock. It anchors the back half of its body inside a rocky crevice and extends its front half over the sand to sift food.
Common questions
What size tank does a tiger tail sea cucumber need?
A tiger tail sea cucumber needs at least 50 gal (190 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a tiger tail sea cucumber need?
A tiger tail sea cucumber is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a tiger tail sea cucumber eat?
A tiger tail sea cucumber eats decomposing organic matter, diatoms and microfauna that it sifts from the sand. It needs an established tank with real detritus, or it can starve.
How big does a tiger tail sea cucumber get?
An adult tiger tail sea cucumber reaches about 17.7 in (45 cm).
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