2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

2024 flyer

Author Topic: Reef Safe Urchin  (Read 3281 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Reef Safe Urchin
« on: April 01, 2009, 21:14:44 »
My kids are wanting an urchin. Are there any that would be safe in a reef tank?



Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2009, 07:28:53 »
I have two that just showed up in my tank one day a few years ago.  I had added nothing to the tank in several months so I don't know where they came from.  One died about a year ago not sure shy but the other is still going strong although it's in the over flow right now...  ::)

I'm not positive what kind it os.  I'll look to see if I have a picture for you.

According to Melev's site..."This long spined urchin is a Diadema Urchin. I recently purchased this for my reef because I find them to be beautiful. They are known to help mow down green hair algae, but urchins often consume coralline algae as well. This one is quite small, as you can tell by the neighboring zoanthids on the left. The yellow thing in the center is not an eye, even though it does seem to be looking around. Urchins are known bulldozers, so keep an eye on your corals if you purchase one, as it may knock a few over. Reef-safe."

MechanicalEngineer

  • Guest
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2009, 07:42:22 »
I'll negate that a bit.  I had a diadema urchin, and once it grew large, it munched on some of my SPS (a few small bites, here and there.)  (I think it was confused between encrusting SPS and coralline.)  Todd W. got it from me since he didn't have SPS...and it ate an entire one of his softies. 

I have two rock urchins that I've had for about a year.  They're supposedly not reef safe as they'll eat softies, but I haven't had that problem yet. 

Offline Joel

  • Adult
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,384
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2009, 07:51:53 »
I am not a fan of the members of the Diadema genus - AKA "the long spine urchin" being put into reef aquariums. They do eat corals or at least will damage them. Some of them can get huge also, like volley ball size or so. They will knock stuff over too.

I like members of the Mespilla genus for reef style aquariums. These are a short spine specie that don't grow much larger than a golf ball. They often are colored too like dark blue body with rows of white or pinkish spines. The common names these are sold under in the pet trade are globe urchin and tuxedo urchin.

Urchins can and often do eat coraline algae but it has been my experience that it grows back faster than it is consumed in properly maintained aquariums.

Joel

Offline bkvreef

  • Adult
  • ****
  • Posts: 801
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2009, 08:28:47 »
What about Eucidaris tribuloides, pencil urchin?
I have had one for a while and have never worried about it.  But now after reading this I am a little uncertain.
Thanks and God Bless,
John

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2009, 09:20:03 »
Thanks for the info. I was leaning towards the tuxedo so good to hear they are safe.

Offline reefman

  • Adult
  • ****
  • Posts: 349
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #6 on: April 02, 2009, 09:31:37 »
The tuxedo is a good urchin but be careful it will pick up rocks or small frags and move them.

MechanicalEngineer

  • Guest
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2009, 20:14:05 »
Yes, some species of healthy urchins will pick up rocks (or frags) to use as "camoflauge". 

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2009, 20:17:46 »
Picked up a Royal Urchin tonight.

Offline hamiltro

  • Juvenile
  • ***
  • Posts: 248
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2009, 06:46:43 »
Best of luck. had one of them and it seemed to do just find. but then again all i have is some polyps
55 gal working on upgrading to 120 with a 55 Sump(unless I find a deal on a bigger tank)

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2009, 06:54:10 »
Picked up a Royal Urchin tonight.

 :needpics

Where did you get him?

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2009, 07:01:53 »
Where did you get him?

Aquatic Specialists. Traded the wrasse for the urchin.

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #12 on: April 03, 2009, 07:03:12 »
Nice trade, now where are the PICS???! 

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #13 on: April 03, 2009, 07:04:53 »
Haven't gotten any yet and the tank is still dark. Gonna be in Columbus at Fort Rapids all weekend so won't get any until next week.....sorry

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: Reef Safe Urchin
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2009, 07:05:24 »
Excuses, excuses, excuses...  ::)

 

Powered by EzPortal