Urchin ID and safeness check.

[jason2459]

I have no clue about urchins other then don't step on them.

I think I have here a common Pacific coast purple sea urchin? And I think they're reef safe? And the spins don't get to long?

I found it a few weeks ago and since then the spines have gotten longer.

It hides in this cave its crawled out of so I could take this picture. Spines look more purple from what I can see while its hiding during the day.

 

[Calappidae]

Yep, it's just a typical rock urchin. I'd guess from florida or gulf.

They're harmless, nonvenomous, and can be picked up off glass (do note their spines are still pointly, if you don't mind tip up pencils you should be good.)

Don't try to get these guys off rocks, it's a lot harder than your generic tuxedo urchin. Withen a month mine went from penny size, to palm of my hand size. They grow fast.

 

[jason2459]

Thanks for the confirmation.

It doesn't move very far. Here it is this morning along with a few new egg deposits from some nerite snail.

 

[Calappidae]

Mine is all over the place, when he was smaller I never really seen him, he hid most of the time, but when he got larger, he became roaming constantly. I guess this is either he's too big for a camping spot now or has to roam for food as what grows in one spot isn't enough now.

 

[jraker]

I thought these guys were nocturnal. Mine only comes out at night.

 

[jason2459]

Mine certainly has been so far. Only comes out once all the lights go out. I was taking pictures with the flash.

 

[Calappidae]

I thought these guys were nocturnal. Mine only comes out at night.

Primarily yes. Mine is out 24/7, but I notice the most roaming when the lights are out. Usually he's stationary on a rock or glass until it's dark.

 

[ecoooks]

My urchin is a pig he eats everything. Thought it would help with some hair alage in a new tank. Only thing this urchin likes to eat is snails and crabs.

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[Betta132]

A predatory urchin? Very strange, especially given that it just looks like a typical hitch-hiker urchin. Are you sure it's killing them as opposed to just finding them dead?

 

[g8gxp]

i used to have a rose urchin that did that. i never saw it go for crabs, but it sure went to town on my CUC. i took it out after it started knocking over stuff.

 

[ecoooks]

A predatory urchin? Very strange, especially given that it just looks like a typical hitch-hiker urchin. Are you sure it's killing them as opposed to just finding them dead?

Out of control I just tried pulling another snail out of his mouth finally let it go snails dead was clearly being eaten. You can tell by the weight of the urchins too that they have been very busy eating. A lot heavier then they were a week ago when I got them. I was a little surprised by the crab but you can see by the picture that that he is clearly in the Urchins mouth. Taking them back to the fish store today to trade in for some more crabs and snails to replace the ones they ate. LOL Shell graveyard

 

[jason2459]

You just need one of these snails...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aqwxCJv4XU

 

[reefer1970]

Mine ate a lot of coralline before I moved it to the sump