Black spine Urchin
Black spine Urchin
Depends...
They do eat coraline algae right off the rocks. Which some people do not like. Since many people love the pretty purple / pink coraline.
But some people don't care about having it... that's a choice.
Coral wise, they are supposed to be reef safe. I had one in my old 125 for a few years. it never ate any of my corals. It temporarily disturbed some corals that closed obviously, when it went over them. But they always opened up again after ward unharmed. Even zoas. They always closed but opened after it was gone un harmed. I decided to get rid of it, because I started getting some things that were not really fastened down and it could knock them over in it's travels. But if you fasten EVERYTHING down (putty / glue) etc.. it can't.
I one in my new tank too.. deciding whether to eventually give him away or not.. once I get more corals..
I do know many prize reef tank owners have them in reef tanks chock full of corals!! As matter of fact, more than one "tank of the month" winner on RC has black spines in their tanks. Including last months.
Some of it may be owner choice and just "possibly" an "individual Urchin"...
But for the most part, they are "reef safe".
