Pink and black sea cucumber (Holothuria edulis) care guide

Group
Other invertebrates
Other names
Edible sea cucumber, Pinkfish, Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis
Family
Holothuriidae
Origin
Shallow tropical Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to Japan, northern Australia and the Pacific islands; to about 20 m
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
30 cm
Temperature
24–28°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
SG 1.023–1.025, dKH 8–12
Minimum tank
300 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
with_caution

Care

The pink and black sea cucumber is a medium-sized sea cucumber up to about 30 cm long, usually dark reddish-black on top and pinkish-mauve underneath, though grey or brown animals occur. It lives on sand, mud, coral rubble and seagrass in shallow lagoons and reef flats. It is collected as food (dried as bêche-de-mer or trepang). Role: it is a sand-bed cleaner. It swallows sand, digests the organic matter and biofilm on the grains and passes out clean sand, turning over and aerating the top few centimetres of the bed. It is mainly nocturnal and hides under rock by day. Set-up: a large, mature tank (300 litres or more) with a deep, well-established sand bed rich in detritus; it slowly starves in a new tank or on thin sand. Cover all pump and powerhead intakes, because a sea cucumber sucked into a pump is a common cause of disaster. Toxins: sea cucumbers can release toxins (holothurin) when they are stressed, injured or die. This species is said to do so only rarely, but if it happens it can poison and wipe out a tank. Have activated carbon ready, act fast if the animal is damaged, and remove a dead cucumber at once. Run carbon and do a large water change if it releases its insides. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most invertebrates. Never dose copper in a tank holding this animal, and check fertiliser and medicine labels before use. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holothuriaedulis). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Detritivore: swallows sand and sediment and digests detritus, microalgae and bacteria. In a tank without enough detritus, scatter sinking pellets, powdered foods or fine frozen foods on the sand near it.

Breeding

Sexes are separate and it spawns all year round in the wild, releasing gametes into the water; the larvae are planktonic. It can also reproduce asexually by splitting in two, each part regrowing the missing organs, and this occasionally happens in aquariums. Sexual breeding is not achieved at home.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful with fish and corals. Marked with caution because of the toxin risk and pump hazard. Do not keep with fish or invertebrates that pick at it (puffers, triggers, some angelfish, hermit crabs, bristleworms in large numbers). One per large tank is enough, because it competes with other sand-sifters for food.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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