Sea Urchin

bmallia82 · 02/16/2009, 12:11 PM

These guys are cool however it's eating away at my coraline. I have a 120 gallong tank so it's taking him a while and hopefully by the time he gets back to that are it grows back but man they go a little faster than i thought.

What are all your thoughts on these guys. My urchin is round with white spikes.

Not sure to keep him or not

opinions and experiences are welcom

drparker · 02/16/2009, 12:31 PM

Love my urchin and yes the coraline grows back, right now mine has an old snail shell and few loose zoa polyps that he carries around with him. It's like a spring hat with flowers. I'd keep him.

Young Reefer 03 · 02/16/2009, 12:35 PM

i have a tuxedo urchin and love it. mine carrys around GSP, and eats alot of corraline, but my corraline grows faster than he can eat it

surge19us · 02/16/2009, 06:00 PM

I have two blue tuxedo's in my 120. The coralline grows back plenty fast. They move from the back to the rock work and back again. Only down side is they occasionally grab a live snail or hermit crab that may need rescuing.

JENnKerry · 02/17/2009, 03:09 PM

Same here. BLue tuxedo urchin. An absolute algae eating machine. Love him!

bosko · 02/17/2009, 04:13 PM

HOW BIG DO THEY GET?

Jason Donohoe · 02/17/2009, 04:28 PM

I read an article recently that suggested that urchins chewing on coraline helps dispere it into the water column so that it will settle all over the tank and encourage spread.

I hope it's true. I just added one 2 days ago.

drparker · 02/17/2009, 04:54 PM

I've had my Blue tux for over a year and he's just slightly bigger than a tennis ball cut in half.

fishoutawater · 02/17/2009, 06:53 PM

Are they prone to knock over corals/rocks?

Jason Donohoe · 02/17/2009, 07:57 PM

I have read that the long spined urchins are bad for that but the short spined and tuxedo urchins much less so.

Tylt33 · 02/17/2009, 08:02 PM

Blue Tuxedos are the gold standard for aquariums. I love mine, debating getting another. Wish they didn't bulldoze as much though...

02/16/2009, 12:11 PM	#1
bmallia82 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NY Posts: 242	Sea Urchin These guys are cool however it's eating away at my coraline. I have a 120 gallong tank so it's taking him a while and hopefully by the time he gets back to that are it grows back but man they go a little faster than i thought. What are all your thoughts on these guys. My urchin is round with white spikes. Not sure to keep him or not opinions and experiences are welcom

02/16/2009, 06:00 PM	#4
surge19us Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Willard, Oh Posts: 656	I have two blue tuxedo's in my 120. The coralline grows back plenty fast. They move from the back to the rock work and back again. Only down side is they occasionally grab a live snail or hermit crab that may need rescuing. __________________ Sean Current Tank Info: 120 gal 30 gal sump/fuge, ATB Econo 840 skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40w, AC Jr., 2-250watt MH 20K Radiums, Lumen Max 2 reflectors, 2 tek T5 retro actinic, Prime chiller, ATO/kalk reactor, drews dosers on two part.

02/17/2009, 03:09 PM	#5
JENnKerry Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Jersey Posts: 7,384	Same here. BLue tuxedo urchin. An absolute algae eating machine. Love him! __________________ We Don't Have a Signature..... Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon Reef

02/17/2009, 04:28 PM	#7
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	I read an article recently that suggested that urchins chewing on coraline helps dispere it into the water column so that it will settle all over the tank and encourage spread. I hope it's true. I just added one 2 days ago. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront softie tank

02/17/2009, 06:53 PM	#9
fishoutawater Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: salt lake city, ut Posts: 577	Are they prone to knock over corals/rocks? __________________ 40 Breeder DIY external overflow, closed loop, skimmer, sump, dosers,.... Current Tank Info: 29gal reef w 20 gal sump/40gal reef w 20gal sump

02/16/2009, 12:31 PM	#2
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	Love my urchin and yes the coraline grows back, right now mine has an old snail shell and few loose zoa polyps that he carries around with him. It's like a spring hat with flowers. I'd keep him.

02/16/2009, 12:35 PM	#3
Young Reefer 03 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 254	i have a tuxedo urchin and love it. mine carrys around GSP, and eats alot of corraline, but my corraline grows faster than he can eat it

02/17/2009, 04:13 PM	#6
bosko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: EL PASO TEXAS Posts: 131	HOW BIG DO THEY GET?

02/17/2009, 04:54 PM	#8
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	I've had my Blue tux for over a year and he's just slightly bigger than a tennis ball cut in half.

02/17/2009, 07:57 PM	#10
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	I have read that the long spined urchins are bad for that but the short spined and tuxedo urchins much less so. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront softie tank

02/17/2009, 08:02 PM	#11
Tylt33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,755	Blue Tuxedos are the gold standard for aquariums. I love mine, debating getting another. Wish they didn't bulldoze as much though...