Tuxedo Urchin

[TinaM]

I just purchased a tuxedo urchin/pin cushion urchin. The guy at the LFS assured me that it is completely safe to have in my tank and will take care of my algae problem. I have a clown, algae blenny, keyhole angel, royal gramma, some crabs and snails and feather dusters. Does anyone have one in their tank? If so, how is it doing? I wanted to get a cleaner shrimp but would like some comments or opinions on this urchin first.

thanks

 

[chinobling]

I have one in my reef tank and have had no problems except he will occasionaly knock over some of my corals. He's pretty cool to watch though.

 

[BryanJ]

I have always had one. I also have a pink pincusion and I am considering getting a second pink one. The urchin is completely safe. But if you want it for eating algae I would get a pink pincussion.

 

[billsreef]

They are one of the better urchins for a reef tank Graze on algae and don't have long pointy mildly venemous spines like diadema's

 

[jsdratm]

I have a pincushion urchin as well and it is a lot of fun to watch. Mine hasn't caused any trouble, other than picking up one of my ricordea mushrooms and carrying it across the tank lol.

 

[650-IS350]

The only thing that it does bad is stuff get carried on them while moving around your aquarium... am planning to get one or 2 as well.

 

[mwwhite]

Cool pix of our PinCushion... Very cool addition.

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[Sk8r]

They're great, but get some putty and secure anything that tends to tip. They're an inoffensive, harmless critter with a massive appetite for algae, and my tripneustes gracilis grew with a mighty burst that took him from 4" to nearly 5". He had to find a new home. I love 'em, but moving him on was a bit of a relief, because he did find ways to get into predicaments. If you go on vacation, I'd qt the urchin with a big wad of caulerpa, so he won't knock something over while you're gone.

 

[jayreef1213]

Don't plan on too much coraline they love it and will clean rocks down to there white bottoms.

 

[oceandrops]

I have one in my 6 gal and 2 in my 90 gal. They keep algae in check.

 

[homesidereef]

must have!!! very cool invert

 

[dawnskaybug]

Mine has my thermometer attached to it right now
I can see the path he made during the day good cleaner

 

[Lev F.]

Carrier Urchins are hilarious. They put small stuff they find on their back. My Tuxedo Urchin carries a bunch of Zoos on his back, I got him like that at the store. There is a Pincushion urchin somewhere carrying a $20 on it's back:

Here