Dead urchin just disolves?

[J2FcM]

Hey all- I've had this lovely for about 6 or so months... Kinda just let it cruise around as it was living with my Mantis Shrimp (RIP).

http://picasaweb.google.com/Menz.Jeff/UrchinMadness#5338933749345674274

so - yeah set it on auto pilot...Mantis shrimp died, then I got a small snail, small hermit, 2 blue damsels, and a Tomato Clown.

well, over the past few days I noticed...well a lack of Urchin coming out from his day time rockwork. I lifted up a bunch of rocks, checked the back and filter (its 30 gal biocube), and NADA!

Do they just disolve and leave no spines and or skeleton for at least...like a week? I can't find it anywhere!

 

[LeslieH]

If it's dead the flesh will be eaten by scavengers or bacteria. The spines will fall off but they & the exoskeleton will last for years. Your other critters don't sound big enough to take an urchin to pieces.

 

[J2FcM]

yeah! thats what I kind of assumed... so I guess I need to conduct a more thorough search... or accept the poor thing went kaput. Now if only I could figure out why.... snail and hermit are still alive.... Thanks for the help!

 

[Airwolf75]

It will leave behind a test

Google Sea Urchin Test, to see what it looks like. Usually white or piuple color.

 

[Kemo484]

That almost looks like a rock boring urchin. If it is, it might have carved itself a cave out of one of your rocks and is hiding in there.

 

[J2FcM]

SO - Turns out when I cleaned my tank out, I peaked into the back where the pump is --- when I turned the pump off the rear of the Biocube fills up with water. Well, the Urchin came out, he was hiding under the pump. Unfortunately he only came out enough to see... right now the only idea I have to catch him is some sort of lasso-attempt. Any other good ideas that might lure an urchin out and up if I turn off the pump (and lights)???

 

[Airwolf75]

I have a bunch of those, to catch, wait until dark and use a flashlight, they come out and move all around them. Then pry it off super fast cause once you touch it it will hunker down and be harer to move.

 

[J2FcM]

well - I kno when they come out...the problem is he is about 13 inches down, in a 3inch by 5 inch wide area... with the pump tubes in the way a lil to boot... and the water only fills up when the pump is turned off... doh!

 

[Kemo484]

I'd say try to intice it out with some dried algea on a clip or if you have one, you could also try a small net. With the lasso, I'd be afraid of breaking off spines.

 

[J2FcM]

my mantis wasnt afraid of breakin a few spindles!!!