Main tasks before and after the sea cucumber’s summer dormancy ends and it returns to the seabed.
2026-06-05
Summer dormancy is a unique behavioral trait of temperate sea cucumbers, an ecological adaptation that has evolved over long periods. Rising water temperatures are the primary trigger for this phenomenon. However, not all sea cucumbers enter summer dormancy; for example, juvenile individuals do not undergo it. During dormancy, sea cucumbers cease feeding entirely, expel most of their body water, and contract into a hardened, rigid state, seeking refuge beneath rocks or in crevices. They remain inactive for about three to four months, reducing their intake and lowering energy expenditure to cope with high temperatures.
As autumn sets in and the weather turns cooler, sea cucumbers emerge from their summer dormancy and begin to forage along the seafloor.
Farmers will gradually release and lower the elevated seawater levels caused by high temperatures in mid-September, allowing them to manage the aquaculture ponds and better assess their condition after the summer heat.
After lowering the water level in aquaculture ponds, some farmers choose to eliminate fish, shrimp, crabs, and other organisms that could adversely affect sea cucumbers, thereby creating a more favorable growing environment for subsequent sea cucumber activity. In contrast, sea cucumbers raised in net cages do not require this practice, as the farming method itself effectively isolates them from bottom‑dwelling predators and other harmful influences.
First, bottom-conditioning should be carried out in ponds that have experienced summer heat. During high-temperature periods, the benthic environment of sea cucumber ponds deteriorates, leading to a substantial accumulation of organic matter and elevated concentrations of harmful substances such as ammonia nitrogen and nitrite—factors that all pose serious threats to sea cucumber health.
Treatment plan: ① Apply Daliang Di (100–120 mu of water per 25-kg bucket) combined with Haiyin Xianfeng (50–60 mu of water per 10-kg bucket) for disinfection and bottom-conditioning.
② Use Weidelili II (50–60 mu of water per box, with each box weighing 12 kg) for disinfection and bottom-conditioning.
③ Use a powerful bottom-conditioning decomposition agent (80–100 mu of water per 25-kg bag) to break down and improve the pond bottom.
It is recommended to alternate among the three aforementioned foundation‑improvement schemes.
Water turbidity and excessive suspended solids caused by an excess of organic matter in the water body necessitate water purification treatment.
Treatment plan: Use a composite Bacillus preparation (40–50 mu of water per 5 kg package).
After bottom‑sediment amendment and water‑purification treatments, aquaculturists are advised to cultivate diatoms to provide feed for sea cucumbers at the end of their summer dormancy. Due to their high nutritional value and growth‑promoting effects on sea cucumbers, diatoms have become an essential feed in sea cucumber farming.
Treatment plan: Use a benthic diatom-based product (10–15 mu of water per 5-kg package).
In addition, sea cucumber farming requires regular, timely monitoring and management.
1. Water Quality Management:
Regularly change the pond water to maintain water quality; keep the water temperature between 10 and 13°C, salinity at 28–34‰, pH between 7.5 and 8.5, and dissolved oxygen above 5 mg/L.
2. Feed Administration:
Sea cucumbers primarily feed on benthic diatoms and organic detritus, but they can also be given formulated artificial feeds, such as algae like Sargassum, Undaria pinnatifida, and Laminaria. The feeding rate should be adjusted according to the sea cucumber’s feeding behavior; typically, the daily feed amount is 1–8% of body weight.
3. Daily Management:
Regularly monitor sea cucumber activity and feeding, promptly detect pests and diseases, and conduct periodic pond cleaning to maintain a clean pond bottom.
4. Disease Prevention and Control:
Regularly apply microbial preparations to regulate water quality and maintain water clarity. At the same time, closely monitor the health of sea cucumbers to promptly detect and address any diseases.
5. Environmental Regulation:
Maintain a stable farming environment and monitor the area surrounding the pond to prevent contamination from harmful substances such as chemical disinfectants and oil spills.
Sea cucumbers enter a summer dormancy to adapt to fluctuations in ambient temperature, particularly in temperate waters—a trait that has evolved over long periods. To ensure their survival after this food‑scarce period, it is essential to cultivate diatoms promptly upon the end of summer dormancy, while also maintaining optimal water quality through regular bottom‑water exchanges and cleanings. These practices enhance the success rate of sea cucumber aquaculture and promote abundant harvests.
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