Blue Tuxedo Urchin decor removal

[g_langley]

A few days back I got a Blue Tuxedo Urchin. For the last couple of days he is sporting 2 small cerith snails on his head, he looks like a rabbit!

The question is, do I need to rescue the two snails and if so, is it just a matter of gently releasing them?

Thanks

 

[Sounds Fishy]

Your urchin may keep them for a few days,but eventually they will get off on their own.Mine goes along for days with everything but the kitchen sink.Most often camoflauge is in the form of macro algae.As the urchin moves around my sea grass filefish hides in the algae the urchin has accumulated,on his back.

 

[donut0079]

It all depends. Sometimes they will hold on to things for quite a while. I think my tuxedo has been carrying the same scallop shell for a month. I believe you can remove them if very careful about it. The tube feet that hold their camouflage are no different than those that hold them to the glass and I've successfully removed him from the glass in the past.

 

[Betta132]

If he picks up a live thing, you may want to release it. Just grasp the snail and gently tug/twist it, he'll let go. You can also throw in some shells/rubble/etc to reduce the chance of him picking up snails in the future- he needs them for camouflage and shade, so he won't stop picking things up.

 

[g_langley]

I tried earlier today gently release one of the two snails, but the "little urchin" had a very good hold and I didn't want to damage him, now nicknamed "Bunny" coz he looks like a Rabbit.

I also tried putting some nori on him but it would not stick and he visually bashed it away with his tentacles while I was holding it.

I've just gone in to look at the tank and he's got yet another snail, so now 3 snails!!!

I guess I will have to wait for the eventual fallout of dead snails and keep checking the water params, not getting those Ceriths anymore.

 

[Nina51]

instead of putting the nori *on* him, next time you see him on the sand bed, put the nori on the sand, gently lift the urchin and put him right on top of it. he'll probably go to town on it. when my tank was new, i supplemented whatever the urchins got off of the glass/rock with nori. you can also rubber band a piece of it to a small rock and drop it in the tank. i would just about bet the farm, the urchin will find it quickly.

 

[g_langley]

I like your small rock with nori idea, Thanks.

 

[g_langley]

I should add that the reason for trying to stick it on him was in a vain hope it would give the snails something to eat!

 

[Nina51]

i've even had my tuxedo urchin find the new era feeding ring.
<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Ninapearl/media/TANK/urchin_zpsedb24822.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/TANK/urchin_zpsedb24822.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo urchin_zpsedb24822.jpg"/></a>

i wish mine would carry around a few snails instead of uprooting my zoas! LOL
<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Ninapearl/media/TANK/frag_zpsfc99d2a5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/TANK/frag_zpsfc99d2a5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo frag_zpsfc99d2a5.jpg"/></a>

 

[g_langley]

Funnily enough, I've just put a zoo frag in, well away from Bunny at the moment but I'm sure that may come next!

 

[g_langley]

I've tried nori and he completely ignores it. He's seems to be extremely happy demolishing my coraline algae though!

Has anyone had any success feeding these things with anything other than coraline?

 

[donut0079]

I had mine carrying around a hermit crab yesterday. Luckily he doesn't seem to hold on to things for too long.