Are spiny urchins a no no?
- Thread starter pottsburg
- Start date
pledosophy
Active member
It doesn't take much. Even a small injury can lead to secondary infections. Think f how big a parasite bite is.
There are other risks as well. They do not make good tak mates, sorry.
There are other risks as well. They do not make good tak mates, sorry.
El-ahrairah
New member
I've kept a Diadema urchin with H. erectus for a year and a half without any problems. The seahorses seemed to recognize the urchin for what is was and never tried to actively hitch on the urchin.
This is not to say that it isn't possible for a seahorse to get injured by the urchin but it is unlikely.
Also, remember that both Diadema urchins and seahorses are common seagrass bed inhabitants (especially in the indo-pacific). Thus, in the wild they encounter each frequently.
-Michael
This is not to say that it isn't possible for a seahorse to get injured by the urchin but it is unlikely.
Also, remember that both Diadema urchins and seahorses are common seagrass bed inhabitants (especially in the indo-pacific). Thus, in the wild they encounter each frequently.
-Michael
Many seahorse species naturally associate closely with long spine urchins. Seahorses have very good eyesight, make slow precise movements, and possess heavy body armor. They are about the least likely fish to have problems being in the same tank as a long spine urchin. People like to blame their seahorse casualities on anything but their own poor husbandry practices.
El-ahrairah
New member
Pretty much most of what mhltcob said are facts... not opinions but facts.
Many species of seahorse and diadema urchin have shared the same habitat for thousands of years. Seahorses instinctually know what long spine urchins are and how to react to them. Go diving in pretty much any Indonesian seagrass bed and you will find both of the species in question coexisting quite happily.
The main poor practice is that people tend to stick too many organisms into too small of an enclosure. Diadema urchins are quite active and can get quite large. If the tank is too small then a seahorse can easily get 'cornered' due to their poor swimming and get accidentally tagged by the urchin.
However, if the tank is appropriately sized for its inhabitants, long spined urchins are not dangerous or harmful tankmates.
Long spine urchins can only become dangerous if they are inappropriately house in a small tank to begin with.
-Michael
Many species of seahorse and diadema urchin have shared the same habitat for thousands of years. Seahorses instinctually know what long spine urchins are and how to react to them. Go diving in pretty much any Indonesian seagrass bed and you will find both of the species in question coexisting quite happily.
The main poor practice is that people tend to stick too many organisms into too small of an enclosure. Diadema urchins are quite active and can get quite large. If the tank is too small then a seahorse can easily get 'cornered' due to their poor swimming and get accidentally tagged by the urchin.
However, if the tank is appropriately sized for its inhabitants, long spined urchins are not dangerous or harmful tankmates.
Long spine urchins can only become dangerous if they are inappropriately house in a small tank to begin with.
-Michael
People can assess the risks for themselves; if they do not want to enjoy an exhibit with them together they do not have too. Seahorses are particularly susceptible to mycobacterium, especially when kept in poor conditions. They do however possess body armor that is particularly hard to penetrate. One of my coworkers does mark/recapture studies with seahorses and remarks about how tough it is to inject them with the fluorescing dye. Anyone who has performed a necropsy on one will also be well aware of seahorse’s defenses. While I do not keep them presently in my home aquarium, I have kept dozens of seahorses in work tanks, some with long spine urchins, and have also seen several public aquarium displays with them coexisting.
