Tuxedo Urchin

[waterlife]

i have one but it looks like it is dying. it was fine until my husband hit it when he put in some more snails. it was just a little pinch on his hand but then last night it did not move and today it is loosing its tenicles. any ideas??? i bought it four days ago

 

[Mako]

What kind of urchin is this? I was told to move him to the sump.

Looks to me like it's a Reef Urchin. No pun intended as thats the common name for Echinometra viridis which is what you have there best I can tell. No need to banish to the sump as they are primarily algae eaters.

 

[goodtimes]

Just be carefull you don't squish it while cleaning with your mag float like I did. Thought I had plenty of room and then it slipped.

 

[shellzreef]

Do we think the urchin could get stuck on the koralia?? or has anyone had this happen?? Im not sure but i felt like he was stuck, i turned off the pump and moved him.

 

[Eel Freak]

Mine has crawled across my Koralia 4 before with no issues... Powerheads tend to be algae hot-spots so the urchin will likely stay there for a while until every last bit is gone. I have even had my tiny Astrea snails be fine on my Koralia 4

 

[oscarslr]

Have had mine for years and its a great clean up crew member, but yes it will pick small stuff up and take it for a journey at times, but really no real damage and They are awesome

 

[thebanker]

I've had one for 2 months now. I got it from a fellow hobbyist who had a flame angel that was pecking at the spines. If you have a flame angel, use caution! When I got the urchin, the spines were mere stubs, and now they're long and lean.

It does some light rock-cleaning, and overall is very interesting to watch. No problems with it yet. It does eat coralline algae, but I have a lot so I'm not worried about one urchin's impact on my 55G.

 

[fishoutawater]

Don't want to hi-jack, but would this be a good way to get rid of coralline algae?

 

[Williams]

I'm sitting in front of my tank wondering what to do, if anything. My Tuxedo Urchin is at the top of my tank and hundreds of little white balls are coming out of the top of it. Poop? Eggs? I think it stopped now. Should I start cleaning these out of my tank with a turkey baster or just leave it alone and let the clean up crew handle it?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'm sitting in front of my tank wondering what to do, if anything. My Tuxedo Urchin is at the top of my tank and hundreds of little white balls are coming out of the top of it. Poop? Eggs? I think it stopped now. Should I start cleaning these out of my tank with a turkey baster or just leave it alone and let the clean up crew handle it?

poop.

here's what a spawn looks like

 

[mariopat23]

I have recently added one to my tank and it hasn't moved for 3 days. The mouth isn't squishy and still has all it's spines. Should i be worried?

 

[EllieSuz]

It's upside down and although I've seen mine turn itself over, I don't think it's easy for them. Do you have any Nori? If so, cut a square of it and turn the urchin over resting right on top of the seaweed. No telling how long it has gone without food since it was caught. Even if you don't have anything to feed it, you need to turn it over. If it still hasn't moved in another day or so, I would consider removing it. If it's dead or dying, it can foul your tank.

 

[greech]

Looks to me like it's a Reef Urchin. No pun intended as thats the common name for Echinometra viridis which is what you have there best I can tell. No need to banish to the sump as they are primarily algae eaters.

I agree but that particular guy can move larger rocks and it mostly likely will at some point.

 

[Redhaloangel]

i have one that came with my 75 gallon and it is in my 30 gallon right now.. and i looove it! lol second day it was in there it was carying around the shell of my fireshrimp, i guess my fireshrimp shedded after the movie.. and i was freaking out thinking it was a dead shrimp but my shrimp was still alive.. and yes it carries things around.. hasnt cought any zoanthids or muchrooms yet.. but its very pretty mine is purple/blue i want to get another to put in the 75 gallon and keep this one in my 30 gallon..

 

[nam2212]

Here is mine with random stuff it has picked up:

 

[Mrs. Music]

My blue tuxedo urchin appears to be chowing down on my zoas that are finally growing well. I moved him for now but I suppose time will tell. Ever heard of this?