urchin losing its spines?

[kamuii]

i have a 15 gallon tank, i haven't done a water change in about a month or so because i was staying with my grandma. so yesterday i did a water change, 2 gallons, cleaned up the sand, took some shells out and the only thing that happened was the tank was extremely cloudy, but while i was doing a wc, i accidentally knocked over my pincushion urchin onto his back, so i flipped him back over qnd he carried on his little way. jut about thirty minutes ago i check on the tank and i see he's lost most of his spines! i've recently started to feed him nori about a week ago and he gained lots of color, but now he's moving slowly and his poor spines are all over!! what should i do?

 

[kamuii]

 

[sde1500]

What's the water parameters? Losing spines is not a good sign. Not sure there is much you can do.

 

[kamuii]

What's the water parameters? Losing spines is not a good sign. Not sure there is much you can do.

alk is good, Ph is ok but i've always had problems with it, might be the test kit tbh and the nitrate is around 60-70, i think where i fluffed the sandbed up maybe there was a spike?


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[sde1500]

alk is good, Ph is ok but i've always had problems with it, might be the test kit tbh and the nitrate is around 60-70, i think where i fluffed the sandbed up maybe there was a spike?


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That nitrate level is exceptionally high. It is too high for the tank and the urchin by far. It is likely the reason for it doing poorly and you bumping it didn't help.

 

[norfolkgarden]

It's a pretty bad sign when they start losing spines but you are still has a lot left. Can you do a 5 to 7 gallon water change?

That should get you nitrate lower for now.


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