Sea Urchin Munches Coral

[Todd W.]

My sea urchin ate a SPS.

This is the second time that I have actually seen my long spined sea urchin do this.  Last night he munched a red montipora frag.  He climbed right on top of it and ate it.  About a year ago I watched him do the same thing to a soft coral.  He ate a section of my kenyan tree coral.

Anyone ever see an urchin exhibit this type of behavior?

[micki]

I've heard some Urchins are munchers. 

[HUNGER]

ouch that sucks

[Wall_Tank]

Long Spin Urchins love calcium based materials.  Normally they go for coraline algae, but I suppose they could get confused once in a while.    Long spin Urchins would be right on the boarder line of reef safe.

Urchins like the Tuxedo Blue Urchins are fine in reefs.   But those are more susceptible to some fish predators.