black longspine urchin question

reefD · 08/04/2009, 05:35 PM

i always have objected to urchins as due to an experience 5 years ago. i got a tuxedo that ate all my coralline off the glass back wall in a 75 gallon in a week. i liked the look of the coralline so i got rid of him. and have since always steered away from them for other reason included as some say they knock rock and frags over . i recently upgraded and have more space for things. now I'm considering a small one. its about the size of a half dollar....so my question is do they eat coralline and if so how much feeding on coralline does a black long spine urchin ? also how bad are they when very small at knocking things over? thanks again all!

rendogg · 08/04/2009, 05:49 PM

Longspines are fairly nimble, but they love coralline and they tend to eat coral later in life.

GoingPostal · 08/04/2009, 05:54 PM

I wouldn't get a longspine just due to the fact they get gigantic. All urchins are going to eat coralline, depends how big the tank is and how fast you can grow it whether it would be an issue or not.

reefD · 08/04/2009, 05:56 PM

i was feeling cautious . im dont think im gunna get 1

919 · 08/04/2009, 06:28 PM

My dad has an longspine urchin the size a volleyball...

reefD · 08/04/2009, 07:04 PM

an old reef buddy always rebuttals the size issue because with his long spine he cuts its spines down weekly with scissors! swear to god !

rgentry123 · 08/04/2009, 07:16 PM

i have a tuxedo urchin now that has been in the tank about 5 months, he does eat coralline but not to the point where there isnt any left. maybe just a bad experience with the one you had previously...how big was the one you had before?

will16 · 08/04/2009, 08:01 PM

The long spine urchins get huge. I think over a foot in diameter. I have had 2 and in both cases, they started eating my sps corals. I would recommend against them.

reefD · 08/04/2009, 08:40 PM

it was small but maybe was hungry . i didnt give it a chance ,,,after 1 day i took him out.

reefD · 08/04/2009, 08:45 PM

i always laugh when my buddy takes out his baseball size urchine and cutss its spines down so its the size of a golfball.

08/04/2009, 05:35 PM	#1
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	black longspine urchin question i always have objected to urchins as due to an experience 5 years ago. i got a tuxedo that ate all my coralline off the glass back wall in a 75 gallon in a week. i liked the look of the coralline so i got rid of him. and have since always steered away from them for other reason included as some say they knock rock and frags over . i recently upgraded and have more space for things. now I'm considering a small one. its about the size of a half dollar....so my question is do they eat coralline and if so how much feeding on coralline does a black long spine urchin ? also how bad are they when very small at knocking things over? thanks again all! __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

08/04/2009, 05:54 PM	#3
GoingPostal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,517	I wouldn't get a longspine just due to the fact they get gigantic. All urchins are going to eat coralline, depends how big the tank is and how fast you can grow it whether it would be an issue or not. __________________ Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer. *Jack Handey

08/04/2009, 05:56 PM	#4
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	i was feeling cautious . im dont think im gunna get 1 __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

08/04/2009, 07:04 PM	#6
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	an old reef buddy always rebuttals the size issue because with his long spine he cuts its spines down weekly with scissors! swear to god ! __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

08/04/2009, 07:16 PM	#7
rgentry123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: fredericksburg, VA Posts: 975	i have a tuxedo urchin now that has been in the tank about 5 months, he does eat coralline but not to the point where there isnt any left. maybe just a bad experience with the one you had previously...how big was the one you had before? __________________ there is going to be an episode of intervention based on me soon if someone doesnt come up with a 12 step program for this hobby soon. And i have RC members to thank for enabling me.

08/04/2009, 05:49 PM	#2
rendogg Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Abbotsford, B.C. Posts: 578	Longspines are fairly nimble, but they love coralline and they tend to eat coral later in life.

08/04/2009, 06:28 PM	#5
919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 84	My dad has an longspine urchin the size a volleyball...

08/04/2009, 08:01 PM	#8
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	The long spine urchins get huge. I think over a foot in diameter. I have had 2 and in both cases, they started eating my sps corals. I would recommend against them.

08/04/2009, 08:40 PM	#9
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	it was small but maybe was hungry . i didnt give it a chance ,,,after 1 day i took him out. __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

08/04/2009, 08:45 PM	#10
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	i always laugh when my buddy takes out his baseball size urchine and cutss its spines down so its the size of a golfball. __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol