Urchins coming from the rockwork!

[natereinhold1]

Last night I found my 3rd baby urchin in 2 weeks. 2 short-spined and 1 rose urchin. They are popping up in my refugium, and I am moving them to my dispaly. The "aquacultured" rock in my fuge was flown in from flordia, but has been in the system for 3 months or so. Why would I just now be seeing these urchins because when i got the rock I looked it over really well and it doesn't have a lot of holes in it, or at least big enough for a marble sized urchin to hide in. I'm not sure on how urchins reproduce, but could these be just now hatching eggs or something of that nature, and should I expect more, and can you have to many?

 

[boomer135]

I had a lot of urchins in my gulf rock...everyone I see I bring to the LFS ad they will eat caraline....they are way cool, but I dont want them to eat the coraline...

 

[natereinhold1]

I know that they eat coralline, but I look at it as a perk too. If they are eating the coralline, that means that they are eating any other possible nuisance algea too and that give room for more coralline to grow and not have to fight for food and light with the other algeas. I had a very large long-spine and a large rose urchin before the move(they didn't make it), and my rock was purple as ever, I just am wondering about whether they release any sort of toxins that will build up after awhile, or any other things of that nature. and will I end up with dozens or just a few. i only added another 50lbs to my refuge whe we moved.

 

[sanababit]

very cool find, wish i had one to get rid of some coralline.....

sana

 

[ser_renely]

Mine have grown huge and fast as well.

 

[robot2222]

TOO COOL, I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST SATISFIYING PART OF THIS HOBBY WHEN SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS TO BE GOOD.............. WE HAVE ALL HAD UNEXPECTED BAD THINGS HAPPEN...........

 

[Dave Harms]

I had one that was about 1/8" of an inch when I found it and 6 months later was 4 inches in diameter. They grow fast.

 

[ginger7286]

Congrats on the urchins. I had a couple both have passed. I agree with you I never saw a decrease in my coralline. They are very cool. I have a BTA that has reproduced twice and the spawn has since reproduced. That is very cool. I was lucky to see the lastest reproduction. Amazing!!!!!

 

[natereinhold1]

The one that i found first has noticably grown, but when their body is the size of a marble a little bit seems like a bunch. My rbta has split 4 times, first in two, then the original split again, then the first clone spit off a little one, then during the 400 mile move the clone split again, but unfourtunatly a piece of rock smushed it and it died, so i only have 3 now, the original and the clone are the same sizes as when i bought the first one, about 8" edge to edge of the disk + tenticals.