urchin name?

[Briney Dave]

I am looking for a little information and the scientific name of an urchin that goes by the common name, at least by author Mike Palletta of "Halloween urchin"

Mike was telling me how effective this urchin is in dealing with bryso algae for which I have a significant outbreak of. I have some tuxedos which are moving across the tank with real vigor but may not eat all age groups of my algae.

 

[Steven Pro]

I am not familiar with the common name Halloween urchin, but you might want to scroll through here,
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/urchins.htm

 

[Briney Dave]

Steven, I could not find an urchin that appears to me to match Mike Palletta's description. I have 4 globulus urchins now but wanted to learn about this recommened species as well.

I am concerned about both toxic stings and the possibility of them turning on some kinds of corals.

The closest I could come was a black urchin on another site. That urchin vaguely had an orangish body with dark purple/black spines. There was not a scientific name provided there though.

I think I will try to track down Mike and email him requesting the propper name.

thanks for your time and for the suggested web-site.

Briney

 

[itZme]

Never heard of it before but found a pic on Google.

Halloween urchin

Tried to find scientific name or any reference and there doesnt seem to be any online...

Good luck with your search.

-- Kevin

 

[Briney Dave]

could it be tripneustes gratilla ???

 

[itZme]

It looks like the one in the pic but they have examples with some blue in them like a tuxedo urchin.
This pic looks very similar

Only problem I have with agreeing that you found the species is that the original pic was someone else's posting of a "halloween urchin" and they could have mis-identified it also.

This website shows the tripneustes gratilla as a standard brown collector urchin.

Keep the suggestions coming

-- Kevin

EDIT: I found the tripneustes gratilla for sale

HERE at Fosters & Smith
They call it the Hairy Pincushion Urchin is also known as the Sea Egg, and the Priest-hat Urchin.

It doesn't look like it or mention Halloween at all or even the tendency to graze on bryopsis.

 

[Briney Dave]

The August/September 2005 issue of Coral magazine called tripneustes gratilla as the preachers cap and makes no mention of the collector habit or name

what a pain common names are

 

[itZme]

Dave,
I was out in Columbus tonight and saw a few CORA guys. Porky has an urchin that looked like the one you want and I asked about it. He said it was sold to him as a "Halloween Urchin" and eats any algae like crazy!

He said they were in stock at Phishy Business right now... Maybe you should give Serdar a call to be sure. I don't know if he ships but it would be worth a shot or even a drive down.

-- Kevin

 

[zeppelin]

Kevin

Nice seeing you and Scott last night. Stop back down when you get a chance.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

Larry

 

[scottfarcuz]

Porky had several awesome urchins that I had never seen before.

Thanks again for the hospitality Larry. I had a blast checking out everyones tanks, and BSing. Seems all the CORA guys are great hosts.

 

[Briney Dave]

I was at Serdar's on Sat. he said he would check into getting one and I only saw purple tuxedos (got four of them too)

 

[Phishy]

Dave, I have 25 of these coming in this week. I will forward the sp name tonight but I belive the posts above are correct.
Serdar

 

[Briney Dave]

thank you Serdar and just let me know a price and how many you are thinking of for my 240

weird thing is a great deal of the bryso right now is very pale and ill looking. I have done two things recently: bumped the pH all the way to 8.6 (yes I know the risks with the other guys) and changed out all the vho bulbs to new ones even though I only have 6 months on them

the corals are actually doing better than ever. I have gained an inch on all three of my digita species already this month an my birds nest has put out three new branches.


man, another trip to Columbus, my wife is going to kill me
Briney

 

[Briney Dave]

Coral magazine calles gratilla a mild behaving urchin despite having a powerful sting and a great consumer of various species of algae. I do not remember them specifying bryso though which does make me a bit nervous.

I am not sure I am a big fan of having anything that stings or will turn on some corals in my tank but I have to beat this bryso.

When the bryso is defeated will be looking to trade away three of the four purple tuxedos and all but one of the Halloween urchins

I obviously don't have a time table for that yet though

Briney