Found a strange looking urchin today.

[GrouperGenius]

I was putting all my livestock into my 180 from their temporary stock tank. And I found this urchin. Just trying to find out if anybody knows what kind it is and if it is reef safe. It's a fast and lively little bugger. The back is black and rubbery feeling. I thought it was a sponge at first.

 

[LeslieH]

That's no urchin, poor thing! It's the central disk of a brittle star with all the legs missing. the mouth & body seem intact so as long as it can feed & is sheltered from predators it should survive. If the legs were eaten off rather than missing as a result of stress or disease the urchin can regrow them in time. If it is disease or some kind of stress it may be doomed.

 

[GrouperGenius]

OMG....I did have a large brittle in there. He must have stressed being in the tub.

 

[grammatron]

Any update here? How's that poor star doing?