Tuxedo Pincushion Urchin

[Cristi]

Does anyone have a Tuxedo Pincushion Urchin and if so, would you recommend or not recommend it for a reef tank? Will the small ones rearrange rock work like other urchins sometimes do?

 

[racrumrine]

I have one and it's one of my favorite critters.

That said, they will collect things on their backs. Thus, you have to have all your frags solidly mounted.

On the back of mine, I have found, mushrooms, snails, and the best one was the floating thermometer!

They eat coralline algae off the rocks and glass; they also eat green algae. You can tell where they've been on the rocks because they will eat the coralline right down to the rock. Don't worry, the coralline will grow back.

Personally, I like the color of the rocks with an urchin in the tank. Solid purple is unnatural and rather boring.

Best of luck,

Roy

 

[antalaotra]

I love my tuxedo, Ive had it for three years, very hardy!

 

[Ralph ATL]

awesome urchin for a reef! no problems!

 

[MC Lighting]

love mine although he thinks its funny to keep stealing the bic nori clip that is suction cupped to the glass it amazes me that he can undo the suction cup and off it goes....

 

[Cristi]

Thanks everyone. They sound like an interesting addition to the tank. I forgot to ask if it is alright to have one in an acrylic tank. Could their spines scratch the acrylic?

 

[MC Lighting]

I think I have heard that they can indeed scratch acrylic...