Didn't acclimate long enough :/

[Aqualoon]

Picked up a black pincushion urchin and only drip acclimated him for 30 minutes. He has lost 2 spines total in the past couple of days.

Is there anything I can do now, or do I just have to wait and see how it goes?

The fish and coral I purchased are doing fabulous, just this little with his two lost spines is concerning. In the future I will do a much longer drip acclimation for urchins (I want to get more pincushion and tuxedo).

 

[Nina51]

two spines in two days doesn't sound like much of a worry. not much you can do at this point other than watch him.

i don't think i'd even notice TEN spines lost. there are so many! lol

 

[Calappidae]

The majority of the time, you would want to just temp acclimate the animal and get it right in the tank. I wouldn't worry about a short drip acclimation when there are debates saying that you actually shouldn't drip acclimate at all: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2365909

On the urchin itself, two spines isn't really much to be concerned with. The urchin is probably stressed from the move, and spine loss is only an effect of stress. Like nina said, two spines is hardly anything, they also will grow their spines back too.

 

[Aqualoon]

This same urchin hasn't moved in 3 days, no more spines have been lost though - should I be concerned? When I got this one from the store the employee pretty much had to peel him from the wall, then peel him again from the plastic container to get it in the bag. From a viewer standpoint it seemed to be pretty traumatic.

Purchased another urchin on Friday (pink pincushion) and this guy has been cruzing all over the tank. Didn't think these guys moved so fast!

 

[sam.basye]

It's probably fine. I have had to pry my two rock boring urchins off the glass and rock numerous times (broken a few spines and tube feet in the process) and they don't seem to act and different. Just go on their way. I wouldn't worry about them.

 

[Nina51]

This same urchin hasn't moved in 3 days, no more spines have been lost though

i find it odd that he hasn't moved at all. is he on the sand bed, glass or rocks?

 

[Aqualoon]

i find it odd that he hasn't moved at all. is he on the sand bed, glass or rocks?

He was on the glass. He has now since moved around on the glass.

My other urchin has been making sand holes - I take it this is normal? It hasn't lost any spines at all.

 

[Nina51]

that's good to hear. i'd stop worrying about them and just let them do their thing. you'll find they will keep your rocks/glass clean, pincushions love coralline algae.

if you don't already have some, throw in some little shells and pea-sized pieces of rubble. the urchins (especially the pincushion) will pick these things up and carry them around, sometimes for days at a time. it's hilarious to see how they decorate themselves!