[3] When disturbed, sea apples, like other holothuroids, can violently extrude their entrails from their posterior in a process called evisceration (autotomy).

[6][7] In addition, sea apples can release a toxic saponin called holothurin into the water as a defense mechanism.

[5] In addition, if threatened or in an unsuitable environment, sea apples can consume large amounts of surrounding seawater to swell to nearly double their original size, this allows them to be moved to a new area by water currents, and much more quickly than they could walk.

[4] Levels of plankton in aquaria are often lower than optimal, and sea apples are often seen attempting to feed not only at night, as in their natural habitat, but also in the daytime.

[4] To try to circumvent these problems, hobbyists attempt to give the sea apple specimens supplemental feedings of plankton and liquid food.