Candy Cucumbers (Colochirus Crassus)

Candy Cucumber — Colochirus crassus Reef Safe: Yes Toxicity Risk: Very Low Candy Cucumber is a small, colorful filter-feeding sea cucumber from the Indo-Pacific. Its bright yellow body and branching feeding tentacles make it one of the most unusual invertebrates for a mature reef aquarium. Unlike sand-sifting sea cucumbers, Colochirus crassus feeds directly from the water column. Once it finds a suitable location with steady flow, it often remains in the same area and extends its branching tentacles to capture fine suspended food particles. Care Level: Moderate Reef Safe: Yes Temperament: Peaceful Maximum Size: approximately 3–4 in Temperature: 75–81°F Salinity: 1.024–1.026 Lighting: Low to Moderate Water Flow: Moderate to Strong Diet: Filter Feeder Origin: Indo-Pacific For long-term success, Candy Cucumbers should be kept in an established reef aquarium with regular availability of fine suspended foods. Feed phytoplankton, zooplankton, rotifers, microplankton, and other fine particulate foods several times per week or in small daily feedings. A well-fed specimen will regularly extend its feeding tentacles into the current. In our long-term experience, Colochirus crassus has proven to be a very safe sea cucumber for established reef aquariums. We have maintained this species for many years together with fish, including repeated spawning events, without observing any toxic effect on fish or other livestock. Even during spawning, neither eggs nor sperm caused any visible stress or mortality in the system. As with any sea cucumber, severe physical damage should still be avoided, and pump intakes should be protected. Important: This species is sensitive to copper-based medications and sudden changes in water parameters. Why we like it: Candy Cucumbers are compact, brightly colored, peaceful, and fascinating to watch while feeding. Once settled into good flow, they often remain in one location and repeatedly extend their colorful feeding crown to collect plankton from the water column.