Pencil Urchin Questions...

[meverha1]

Ordered some additional CUC from Reefcleaners and decided to get a pencil urchin to take care of some hair algae.

A couple of questions...

Are they reef safe? Anyone had any negative experiences with them?

Asking because John at Reefcleaners lists them as reef safe but LiveAquaria says they aren't.

What sort of movement should I see out of this thing?

I acclimated it and placed it in the tank. A few of it's spines moved slightly but then nothing. I noticed I had placed it upside down so I turned it over. Again... some spines moved slightly and then nothing. It's been sitting in the place I put it for a little over an hour now.

How can you tell a "sick" pencil urchin from a healthy one?

Can/Will they climb around the tank? I placed him on the sandbed. Do I need to place him on rocks?

 

[mcgyvr]

I believe the concern with it is that it will climb/move/knock into your corals not eat them..
Like most urchins do..

And they can sometimes sit in the same spot for hours or more..

 

[AlSimmons]

This link might help.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/rs/index.php

 

[meverha1]

This link might help.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/rs/index.php

Actually that raises more questions than it answers.

Reefcleaners (who have never steered me wrong before) say that the pencil urchin is great for eating algae. This article says that they are carnivorous

 

[AlSimmons]

Here's another one.

http://www.tfhdigital.com/tfh/200908/?pm=2&u1=friend&pg=57#pg57

 

[JMorris271]

I had one and loved it for it's keeping the back of the tank clean. I can't speak to coral because I don't have them any more.

 

[jason2459]

Pencil urchins are opportunistic basically and could be considered omnivore. Yes, they could go after sponges and some soft corals. It's a possibility. My 3 dwarf angels could too. Risk vs reward. I have a pencil, tuxedo, and short spine. Love them all. I love more of the touch tank stuff in my tanks like starfish too.

 

[ZachsZoo]

In my experience, pencil urchins are reef safe and very hardy, they may nip at soft corals and move rocks around, but it isn't a big concern. As far as movement goes, a healthy urchin should be spotted in a different area of the tank every day, at first it won't move a lot but it will acclimate quickly. You can place him on the rocks to entice him to move around. A healthy urchin will be stuck to a rock or the glass and be a dark brown color. I had mine for almost 6 years.