Urchin or Crab

[schryvertime]

crabs are, and always will be opportunistic feeders. IT's not a matter of feeding them, it's if they get the craving for X one day, they'll eat it.

Every time I see an urchin it's a bulldozer, no matter what kind. I'm with others here in that i'd stick to snails and hermits.

But sometimes I know folks just want to get something different. Resist the urge!

Haha they are just so tempting....

 

[chimmike]

My favourites are the Sexy Shrimps, poetry in motion.

I'm gonna have a stable of those guys in my tank, guaranteed. They're just too freaking cool.

 

[Coelli]

I'm gonna have a stable of those guys in my tank, guaranteed. They're just too freaking cool.

I have a stable of sexies (6 of them). They've killed two torches and stripped my red planet (which has finally mostly recovered months later). They have a taste for zoas too. 1 of the females lives with a mini maxi, the other 5 host 2 of my duncan colonies. At lights out they spread all over the tank. If you get these guys, you MUST keep them well fed. Don't come home too late and decide it can wait until morning. They'll just serve themselves.

I like them a lot and they can stay, but they can be a serious PITA.

 

[g_langley]

I'm gonna have a stable of those guys in my tank, guaranteed. They're just too freaking cool.

I have six but another 3 are on order for delivery next week. Not had any problems with them and they are always pooping so I guess they eat well enough!

 

[schryvertime]

If you get these guys, you MUST keep them well fed. Don't come home too late and decide it can wait until morning. They'll just serve themselves.

I like them a lot and they can stay, but they can be a serious PITA.

this has been a serious problem for me....im making a conscious effort to make sure i dont miss a day of feeding even it it means asking my neighbors to stop by and drop some food in.

 

[Buzz1329]

The urchin is by far the most effective CUC member. They will need significant amounts of coralline algae as well as other types of algae. Stay away from long spine urchins. Bulldozing frags is the fault of the hobbyist more so than the urchin. Securing frags with superglue first and then molding epoxy around the plug or base of the coral and the rock structure will insure the coral will not come off.

Agreed. I would go with Blue Tuxedo Urchin. Constantly patrols rocks to keep them clean. I would never add another crab to my tanks. IMO, CUCs containing blue legged hermits are a riot. The crabs eat the snails that come with the CUC, requiring that you constantly replenish snails.

Just saying,

Mike

 

[schryvertime]

Agreed. I would go with Blue Tuxedo Urchin. Constantly patrols rocks to keep them clean. I would never add another crab to my tanks. IMO, CUCs containing blue legged hermits are a riot. The crabs eat the snails that come with the CUC, requiring that you constantly replenish snails.

Just saying,

Mike

Will the blue tuxedo urchin eat things besides coralline algea like mysis shrimp that i feed regularly? Do they tend to ship pretty easily as well? I do not believe that my LFS has any at the current time but I can find one online easily.

 

[Coelli]

Will the blue tuxedo urchin eat things besides coralline algea like mysis shrimp that i feed regularly? Do they tend to ship pretty easily as well? I do not believe that my LFS has any at the current time but I can find one online easily.

I've never seen mine eat anything they didn't scrape off the rock, but they poop constantly (urchins pooping is really comical) so they must be finding enough just by scraping the rocks.

 

[Wazzel]

I have a red tuxedo in my frag tank. Eats all kinds of algae and does not knock over much. It is a small one about 1.5" in diameter. Really cool little guy.

 

[schryvertime]

I have a red tuxedo in my frag tank. Eats all kinds of algae and does not knock over much. It is a small one about 1.5" in diameter. Really cool little guy.

Any difference between and red and a blue besides color?

 

[Wazzel]

Any difference between and red and a blue besides color?

Not that I know of.