"Pruning" Of Black Long Spine Urchins

RCJ31559 · 06/14/2007, 04:44 PM

I have a black long spine urchin in a 130 gal. reef tank, which is growing fast and starting to knock things down, etc. It's spines are a good 8" long. I know their spines routinely break, but didn't know if I could "give it a haircut". I would like to cut it's spines back to maybe 4" or so. Any comments would be appreciated.

edwing206 · 06/14/2007, 04:46 PM

Hmm. Never really thought of that. I'd say probably not without hurting it.

greenbean36191 · 06/14/2007, 07:54 PM

The spines are covered with living tissue. Any that you cut become open wounds and potential infection sites. It's not a good idea.

JoeyK@OCMD · 06/14/2007, 08:28 PM

You should know, that your urchin will continue to get bigger, up to the size of a basketball, granted that you leave it alone. I guess you could always cut off your fishes fins to make room. JUST KIDDING !

Obi-dad · 06/14/2007, 08:33 PM

I cut my down to size every month. No harm to it, just grows them back. I use my frag shears to trim the spines down to less than an inch.

06/14/2007, 04:44 PM	#1
RCJ31559 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1	"Pruning" Of Black Long Spine Urchins I have a black long spine urchin in a 130 gal. reef tank, which is growing fast and starting to knock things down, etc. It's spines are a good 8" long. I know their spines routinely break, but didn't know if I could "give it a haircut". I would like to cut it's spines back to maybe 4" or so. Any comments would be appreciated. Last edited by RCJ31559; 06/14/2007 at 05:13 PM.

06/14/2007, 04:46 PM	#2
edwing206 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Shoreline,Washington Posts: 4,518	Hmm. Never really thought of that. I'd say probably not without hurting it. __________________ The name's Luis. :) Current Tank Info: 50G cube

06/14/2007, 07:54 PM	#3
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	The spines are covered with living tissue. Any that you cut become open wounds and potential infection sites. It's not a good idea. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

06/14/2007, 08:33 PM	#5
Obi-dad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: CT Posts: 4,314	I cut my down to size every month. No harm to it, just grows them back. I use my frag shears to trim the spines down to less than an inch. __________________ Greg, member of ARKSC and CTARS Visit our CTARS club website by clicking my RC name then 'visit homepage' - and please support your LFS Current Tank Info: 75g mostly stonies. DIY LEDs (24 CW XP-G, 48 RB XR-E) on dwizum CAT4101 drivers, DIY Hydra controller, SSB, Korallin Ca Reactor, Euroreef skimmer

06/14/2007, 08:28 PM	#4
JoeyK@OCMD Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 163	You should know, that your urchin will continue to get bigger, up to the size of a basketball, granted that you leave it alone. I guess you could always cut off your fishes fins to make room. JUST KIDDING !