Is this Sea Urchin Reef safe?

[ken6217]

I just purchased this sea urchin and it is in a bucket acclimating. While I was doing that, I tried to do a search on the net. Does anyone know if it is safe for shrimp, snails, sps and lps? I asked the store owner and he said it was a pin cushion sea urchin and it was safe. Upon looking on the net it looks closer to a Long Spine Banded Sea Urchin. If it is that, this was part of the description: "Juveniles generally eat algae, and the adults are carnivores, preying on invertebrates."

Does anyone know of this and know if it is safe to put in my tank? This is a picture I just took of it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/81823538

Thanks,
Ken

 

[jaymz101]

Sounds like you nailed it.

...Note to self do research BEFORE buying.

 

[ken6217]

I usually do the research beforehand. I hadn't planned on buying an urchin but saw it and thought that this was different than others and looked beautiful. My only thoughts on these is that they ate coralline algae. I asked the store owner and he said no with this one.

However, I did do the research while he was acclimating and I felt he was not a good choice. He went back to the store.
Ken