Tunicates, or Sea Squirts, resemble sponges but are actually very complicated animals . Their adult form lives attached to hard substrate and filters the water for food, mainly bacterioplankton. A well established aquarium with a sand substrate will help to generate appropriate food. Additions of phytoplankton and occasional stirring of the sand, as well as minimal or no protein skimming, may help. We recommend Tunicates only be attempted by expert aquarists who can meet their demanding needs.
| Category | Invertebrate |
| Care Level | Expert |
| Diet | Filter Feeder/Plankton |
| Size | 4 Inches |
| Origin | Florida |
| Water Condition | 72-78F, dkh 8-12, PH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025 |
| Water Flow | Medium |
| Light | Moderate |
| Reef Compatible | Yes |
| Compatibility | See Chart |
The Tunicate requires a mature reef aquarium with plenty of live rock and excellent water conditions. They are non-photosynthetic and have no lighting requirements, but should be placed in an area of strong intermittent water current. Some species of Angelfish, Moorish Idols and Nudibranch may eat this species of tunicate.
The Tunicate will require supplemental feeding with liquid plankton and other dissolved organic foods, as well as benefiting from the addition of iodine and trace elements.