urchin in a cave?

[DNickell]

My long spine urchine moved into a cave in my rock, just behind a clam. It has been in there for about a week now. It is a tight fit for it, but it is moving around inside the cave. I've even seen it run off a hermit crab that was feeding in the sand at the cave entrance.

Is this normal behavior? Why would it be holed up in a cave for so long? It normally just wanders about the rock, sand and glass like a normal urchin. Should I be seeking out an urchin therapist?

 

[Grunt]

My longspine likes to hide in rocks all the time. Usually looking at night with a red lens flashlight I will find him out and about. Depends on the species, I have a rock boring urchin also that is always in the rock.

Cheers

 

[romunov]

Is he moving around at night at least?

 

[DNickell]

It is moving around inside the cave and I've caught it about half way out late at night. I really haven't stayed up till the middle of the night to check.

When I got up this morning early, just about sun up and still very dark in the tank, I shined a light in the cave. The urchin was in there and turned around and pointed its eye-thingie at me. So it is still very responsive, and looks healthy.

The urchins I've had in the past pretty much stayed out and grazing full time. I did notice that the inside of that cave looks very clean...

 

[DNickell]

Update: I managed to shine a brighter light up into the cave to see what was going on. The rock lining the cave is completely stripped of all coraline, or any rough edges of any kind. It looks like the urchin is making itself at home in there.