Urchin Population Explosion

NeedBiggerTank

NeedBiggerTank

Not Likely 2 Ever Grow Up
Not sure where all these little guys came from, but I've got 10-15 (that I've counted so far) maroon/dark red/purplish urchin babies - some just 1/8", up to about 1/2" across (spines included). I expect they are caribbean in origin, as 99% of my live rock is caribbean - last rock added was 3 months ago. Possibly these are "Echinometra lacunter" or "rock urchins"?

I spotted the first one about five weeks ago and thought it was "cool" to have a free urchin show up... but he didn't let on that he had dozens of brothers and sisters. :lol2:

urchin.JPG

Now I'm thinking that I need to start catching these little guys and find them homes, before they take over the tank. So, anyone out there want to give one of these little guys a home? Perhaps you'd like two - you wouldn't want one to get lonely now would you?

And anyone want to tell me how to pick these things up without harming them - or harming me? LOL

Jennie
 
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i got one urchin,i cant handle 2 as one eats all day long and night,he/she eats this green algae in my tank,glad i have him/she or else i'd be over run in this green stuff lol btw i'd use either a small cup and scoop it out or use a regular aquarium net
 
These are definately nocturnal, which is why I didn't have a clue that I had so many. They don't all come out until the lunar LEDs go off, and I'm usually long asleep by then!

However the larger ones seem to be more tolerant now, and there are a few I can locate during the day. They seem to be growing alarmingly fast! Is this typical?
 
its typical to the point mine did,mine poped up one day while i turned on my lights manually and saw him hiding and he ran away,as he grow there were less places for him to hide and he started going out more even though my lights are on......he is awesome with my CUC...in fact i'd say he's my best guy for the job
 
can you get a clearer picture of them? they appear to be pencil urchins. I just cant see if the spines are dull or sharp. If the spines are sharp, they are probably rock boring. If they are carribbean pencil urchins,chances are they are fine with corals. Its the indo pacific varieties that eat coral. If you can identify them as pencil urchins, I would LOVE to have a very small one!
 
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Pencil urchins have fat spines of uniform thickness, correct? These have pointy spines - wider at base and needle like @ tips.

And, no, there is no way to get better photo. These are tiny little things, taken with flash light and camera at night. Lucky to get the shot I got! The pic is of one that is only 1/4 inch across, including spines. However, will see what I can do tonight... don't think the camera can zoom any closer - and I can't (for some reason) upload any high-qaulity photos to this site - and its limiting me to tiny sized photos. If someone can tell me how to upload a better pic, I'll do it!
 
Urchin2.jpg


Urchin1.jpg


Camera will not zoom any closer - darn thing are too small. See if these help with identification... that is, assuming the pictues actually show up.
 
urchins

urchins

Hi,

I am a "newby" BUT... I have had one of these guys in my reef tank for six months..... Didn't know I had him at first. He must have came in on a live rock. I have had no problem with multiplication. He is another member of the team to me.... Are they bad?:worried:
 
like i said it looks just like mine and he is 4" from tip to tip now,maybe even a bit larger,aside from being a peoblem,yeah mines a huge probllem if ya are creen algae lol
 
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