Urchins and mantis ??

[Agu]

Are urchins mantis safe ? My mantis tank which is actually part of my sump has nuisance algae. The n wennerae (about 4" long) has killed even the largest turbo I could find. I'm wondering is the spines of an urchin will protect it ?

 

[Gonodactylus]

No.

 

[Agu]

Thanks.

 

[Gonodactylus]

I should have qualified my "No". I have seen Odontodactylus scyllarus feed on urchins and in Belize, Neogonodactylus oerstedii puch holes in the test and live in the skeleton. I would not trust a valuable urchin with any smasher bigger than 2.5 inches. On the other hand, small gonodactylids and certainly spearers such as P. ciliata would be safe.

Roy

 

[rwhhunt]

I keep a pincushion urchin with my O. scylarrus, there has never been any attacks or interest in it or a knobbystar... surely, if I dont feed him enough, and he gets really hungry... So far over the past two months, he has killed two margirita snails, and a small one hermit... I feed krill or gulf shrimp every few days.

 

[rwhhunt]

I only paid $5 for it, so if its eaten its not a big deal..

 

[Fishyfins]

i keep a small unidentified urchin with my oerstedii, and they have lived together peacefully for many months now

 

[Gandy]

I am surely going to get an urchin for my p. ciliata that being said!

 

[rwhhunt]

I stand corrected... Boris my O. Scylarrus, just couldn't hold out any longer on his pincushion roommate...After about two months of a friendly relationship, the urchin became a tasty snack.... I found him in the way back literally in pieces... BUT I imagine a ciliata wouldn't or probably couldn't take out a decent sized urchin.... Also, I still have not had any issues with starfish...

 

[Gandy]

He was just too tempted!

 

[pisces77]

uni - sushi style urchin.