new tuxedo urchin, Is he dead??

[melaniewhite25]

I just purchased a tuxedo sea urchin from my local fish store. I did the regular "floating" & adding tank water to bag as directed by store. He has now been in my tank for about an hour. I have not seen him move or anything. He has some hairs missing and one of my crabs won't leave him allow...Is he dead? Or does it take a while for them to start moving once in new tank? HELP!

 

[Calappidae]

Give it some time, they're pretty slow when first introduced. Test your salinity and nitrates.

 

[melaniewhite25]

Thank you for your advance. I was trying to add image but can't get it to upload on here

 

[melaniewhite25]

Here is a picture of him.

 

[Sounds Fishy]

He looks fine.They do initially stay in idle mode for a while when first introduced.Should be moving around after 3 or 4 hours

 

[melaniewhite25]

I think he is officially dead. It has been 4 hours and he has lost about half of his spikes, laying on his back, crabs and starfish are eating him. I took him out of tank about 10 minutes ago. Hopefully can exchange him for another one since he was dead when I purchased him...thanks for y'all help though.

 

[theatrus]

If he was moving or attached at the LFS I would make sure to check your parameters (SG, Alk being the most critical).

 

[melaniewhite25]

He was just seating on the bottom at the store. Never saw him moving. It was the last one they had. When I go him out of him bag at home the water was filled with his spikes then too.

 

[hotelbravo]

still. test your water and tell us what the results were in number form not "good, bad, ect"

 

[Sounds Fishy]

I think he is officially dead. It has been 4 hours and he has lost about half of his spikes, laying on his back, crabs and starfish are eating him. I took him out of tank about 10 minutes ago. Hopefully can exchange him for another one since he was dead when I purchased him...thanks for y'all help though.

Sorry to hear that...

 

[melaniewhite25]

Water tested....lots of nitrogen, 80 on the scale. I just got due performing a 25% water change and changing my filters. Maybe when I get my new urchin in a few days things will go better.

 

[Betta132]

Fix the nitrogen first, then buy the urchin. Test again, do more water changes, be sure you aren't going to end up with another dead one.

 

[Calappidae]

How long has your tank been running?

 

[Betta132]

Also, you may want to drip-acclimate the urchin instead of just the floating thing. Urchins are reasonably delicate and need slow acclimation.

 

[Jazzii9j]

Sadly I just had this experience. Crabs normally won't mess with them. But when I saw mine picking at it I was upset. Then realized the urchin was dead. Found out my salinity was too high. Shocked him and killed him. Usually you can see their suction cups or spines moving around when they're alive even if they aren't moving around.