Removal/Transport of Urchin

[fishguy449]

I am donating a black long-spine urchin to a school that has a 90g tank for the hosting of their Bangai's. He is presently in my 75g reef. I was wondering how you guys would remove this urchin from my tank. I've heard of 2 ways so far - grab a spine like it was a toothpick or use a spatula. Just wondering how you would do it? I will transport in a bucket rather than a bag.

 

[Pandora]

I would use the spatula, slowly & carefully. The spines can break off. Also, if you just use brute force, you can pull their sucker feet off.

 

[jimsta]

I grabbed a spine and then put it on a wet rag(folded many times). It was fine, but be careful your fingers will not slide down the spikes, only up, they have some sort of serrated edge on them.

 

[fishguy449]

Looks like I'l be using plastic spatulas/scrapers trying to be gentle where he's attached, with maybe a hand to assist.

So what's up and what's down? Are the spines serrated, or are they barbed one-way?

 

[fishguy449]

Thanks for all your help. I waited until hi was on the crushed coral and he came up easy with a spatula underneath and a hand-on-spine at the top. He's in his traveling bucket. Thx again.