ID this Cuke

[Saltz Creep]

Here is a cuke that must have hitchhiked as a larvae on a coral frag. It's now grown to about 5 inches long. Can anyone ID it for me?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Cannonball888/Cuke.jpg

[romunov]

None of my reference can pinpoint your animal by this picture.

Can you get pictures from different angles?

[Saltz Creep]

Dang. I had an idea I had a rare one. I've never seen one like it before sold commercially anywhere. He's an awesome sand-eater, and he stays off the tank walls. I wish I could have more like him. I'll try to post another pic later.

[Saltz Creep]

Here ya go. He's gray with dark bands. The pointy thorns have a yellow base with dark tips. He's fairly attractive for a sand-eating cuke.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Cannonball888/Cuke2.jpg

[Paintbug]

looks like a Holothuria floridada to me. im not a 100% on that though. happen to get some LR from FL? :D they are common to the FL Keys. im pretty sure that its in the Holothuria family, hopefully someone can confirm!

[Saltz Creep]

Paintbug, I think you are right. The larvae most likely hitchhiked in on a Florida Ricordia rock I got a while back. Why aren't these cukes sold commercially? I'd like some more.

[Paintbug]

they are actually, but they have a wide range of colors, the more common colors are yellow and brown. they are usually sold under Tiger Tails as the common name. another thing with this species is they wont wipe out your tank if they die.

[Saltz Creep]

I thought Tiger Tails are of Indo-Pacific origin. However, I do see Holothuria floridana listed under Atlantic cucumbers.

[jpfelix]

there are atlantic and pacific tiger tails.

[Paintbug]

common names are often misleading. :)