Urchin in a reef?

[OneArmedBandit]

My wife and I went to the LFS last weekend for some more LR and while searching for the "right" pieces she noticed a pincushion urchin and asked if we could get it. My tank is no where near ready for livestock so I told her we'd have to wait. Are urchins beneficial for reefs? I mostly looking at slowly stocking my tank with a clean-up-crew, Yellow Head Jawfish (or Midas Blenny) and maybe a shrimp when the time comes. Of course, that's on top of a few LPS. -Steve

 

[Steelslinger75]

I had 3 urchins in my 210 and never had a problem with them. They do eat coraline, but I figured that the three of them cant do that much damage. Never had a problem with them. I personally think that are a cool addition to the reef.

 

[scrmbld33]

i have a long spine, and a few rock boring that came as hitchikers, never did any damage but the long spine is really big and knocks over frags so i will be getting rid of him for a small one

 

[mouscacha]

I have a couple urchins which don't do much. When they do something, it's pretty cool. When I first brought him home, he would climb the glass trying to find a place to put himself in. I got to see what his mouth looks like when he's eating. Pretty gross and neat at the same time.

 

[Sk8r]

They grow fast. They do shove rock, so use reef putty on anything tippy.

 

[OneArmedBandit]

Thanks for the replys, the wife will be happy. -Steve

 

[cardiffgiant]

I've got a long spine and a pin cushin. No problems here, other than having to retrieve things from the pin cushion (nails, hermit crabs, thermometer, feeding clip, frags... anything that's not nailed down).

 

[kware]

I have a pencil urchen and he eats everything but coraline. It eats green algae off the top of the coraline. Good tank cleaner.

 

[fish tanked]

i got a purple urchin. he does great. I only see him once in a while early morning though.

 

[mwwhite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11599660#post11599660 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cardiffgiant
I've got a long spine and a pin cushin. No problems here, other than having to retrieve things from the pin cushion (nails, hermit crabs, thermometer, feeding clip, frags... anything that's not nailed down).

That's funny and so true - we have the pincushion and a tuxedo urchin - between the two of them I'm always retrieving things from them, little hermits upside down with their little legs going a mile a minute, mushroom frags.... not had the feeding clip though.....yet!

lol

 

[Steelslinger75]

My pincushij would grab anything and everything around the tanks. It loved my zoa frags and feeding clips.

 

[Chad Vossen]

i had a pencil urchin, it left a nice trail of bare rock on my nice purple piece of live rock. after seeing the damage to my coralline algae, i sent it to the sump.

 

[JENnKerry]

The tuxedo's stay relatively small, I think only topping off at around 3" in diameter. Very cool, colorful addition to any reef.

 

[JENnKerry]

I should also probably add that I've had mine for over two years and he's still the same size. Maybe a little bigger, but not by much.

 

[FOSELONE]

i had some as well in my last acrylic tank...they chewed up the front glass when i was lazy to scrub the tank of algae...so be carefull...ill never go with urchins again for that reason...

 

[Dino]

I have a tuxedo urchin and I love him. "He's" always crawling around the tank eating algae, never has bothered a thing. Plus its sort of amusing watching his little sticky arms come out and grab things, especially when its a hermit. Little hermit crab clawing away at the rock trying to yank itself free and the urchin just marches on covered in hermits, shells, stray bits of algae...

 

[skinnykenny]

My pencil urchin got on top of my chocolate chip star and ate hunks out of him. I found him and removed him but the star died within a week. I have also seen the photos of an unchin chewing through the cord on a heater and frying itself along with some other tank critters. I don't think that they are worth the risk.