please ID

currentking · 09/01/2007, 07:57 PM

is this safe for my reef? I just saw it in here today.

schoch79 · 09/01/2007, 08:03 PM

Yep it's ok. It will eat algae but if I remember right it will also eat coralline algae. Up to you if you want to keep it. I've heard of plenty of people that have them in their tanks.

seabisque · 09/01/2007, 08:09 PM

ME THINKS IT IS A FEATHER DUSTER AKA TUBE WORM

schoch79 · 09/01/2007, 08:13 PM

It's an urchin.

IslandCrow · 09/01/2007, 08:54 PM

Is it behind the urchin?

No, it is the urchin!

Saltwaterstart · 09/01/2007, 09:25 PM

Sea urchin.

Don't touch it.

seabisque · 09/01/2007, 09:30 PM

DO SEA URCHINS LOOK KIND OF LIKE FEATHERDUSTERS?
\

coast2coast7390 · 09/01/2007, 09:32 PM

its an urchin and by the looks of it could be venomous

Saltwaterstart · 09/01/2007, 09:36 PM

Feather dusters and sea urchins don't really look the same. They can under some circumstances, but the main thing is, feather dusters don't move around the tank and eat algae.

Here's the difference.

Sea urchin...

Feather duster...

These are not from my tank, but I wish they were.

coast2coast7390 · 09/01/2007, 09:42 PM

it most likely go after macro and hir algae
i had an urchin that sat on its side and started to eat a strand of Carlupa

michaeljames · 09/01/2007, 10:14 PM

it is an urchin, and it will eat coralline algae but if you already have a good base of coralline it will replenish itself faster than the urchin can eat it. IMO a very interesting addition to any tank, shouldn't cause you any problems, he will grow fast though!

seabisque · 09/01/2007, 10:42 PM

still looks like a featherduster from the aerial view and some algae

schoch79 · 09/02/2007, 12:52 AM

(In a strong austrian accent) It's not a dusta!

funman1 · 09/02/2007, 12:55 AM

That's about as urchin as urchin gets??
Do you have a pic of a feather duster that even remotely looks like that?
I'd love to see it..

funman1 · 09/02/2007, 12:55 AM

Double post sorry

Ben485 · 09/02/2007, 12:56 AM

don't touch that featherdusta it will hurt ya bad!!!!

currentking · 09/02/2007, 04:30 AM

I also thought it was an urchin, but I wasnt sure if it was reef safe. So from what I gather it is reef safe, just dont touch it because it is not "me" safe, correct?

IslandCrow · 09/02/2007, 09:35 AM

I wouldn't say don't touch it, but certainly be careful. It's not going to jump off the glass and sink its fangs into you or anything like that, but those spines can be very sharp and extremely painful if you jab a finger on one. . .or a foot. I've done that. . .OUCH!

bluetmax · 09/02/2007, 09:44 AM

It looks to me like a regular long spined urchin, and to my knowledge they aren't venomous. You said you just noticed it. Was this a hitchiker on some rock? I wouldn't pick it up and use it to scratch my eye with it if I had an itch, however. lol If you just gently "scoop" it up and don't mash it, you should be OK if you opt to move it. The only draw-back IMO, is they munch on corralline, and get HUGE if it is indeed the long spine. I've been wrong before though. lol

Theomi · 09/02/2007, 10:30 AM

They are as venemous as a bee sting

currentking · 09/02/2007, 12:23 PM

it was a hitchhiker. Thanks for the info

Saltwaterstart · 09/02/2007, 02:58 PM

Just asking this question but...

Are there any small urchins?

ferg822 · 09/02/2007, 04:04 PM

do these things grow in your tank without doing anything. dont u have to bye urchins or whatever it is

Saltwaterstart · 09/02/2007, 04:08 PM

You usually have to buy urchins because they are considered part of a clean up crew. They eat hair algae, but leave corals alone.

Urchins around my area are about $20.00

funman1 · 09/02/2007, 04:52 PM

I had two urchins show up in my tank that were hitch hikers.
They don't need any special treatment, just some alage and coraline.

Watch out,they they don't harm coral per'se but they do act like bulldosers. Any rock that can be moved,will be when they get big enough..

09/01/2007, 07:57 PM	#1
currentking Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Palm Bay Florida Posts: 868	please ID is this safe for my reef? I just saw it in here today.

09/01/2007, 08:03 PM	#2
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	Yep it's ok. It will eat algae but if I remember right it will also eat coralline algae. Up to you if you want to keep it. I've heard of plenty of people that have them in their tanks. __________________ We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.

09/01/2007, 08:09 PM	#3
seabisque Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wadsworth,OH Posts: 115	ME THINKS IT IS A FEATHER DUSTER AKA TUBE WORM __________________ heather Current Tank Info: 39 gallon cycling

09/01/2007, 08:13 PM	#4
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	It's an urchin. __________________ We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.

09/01/2007, 08:54 PM	#5
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Is it behind the urchin? No, it is the urchin! __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

09/01/2007, 09:25 PM	#6
Saltwaterstart Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 458	Sea urchin. Don't touch it. __________________ -Geoff A hero need not speak. When he is gone, the world will speak for him. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon bio-cube- Planning 135 gallon SPS reef

09/01/2007, 09:30 PM	#7
seabisque Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wadsworth,OH Posts: 115	DO SEA URCHINS LOOK KIND OF LIKE FEATHERDUSTERS? \ __________________ heather Current Tank Info: 39 gallon cycling

09/01/2007, 09:32 PM	#8
coast2coast7390 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 3,627	its an urchin and by the looks of it could be venomous

09/01/2007, 09:36 PM	#9
Saltwaterstart Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 458	Feather dusters and sea urchins don't really look the same. They can under some circumstances, but the main thing is, feather dusters don't move around the tank and eat algae. Here's the difference. Sea urchin... Feather duster... These are not from my tank, but I wish they were. __________________ -Geoff A hero need not speak. When he is gone, the world will speak for him. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon bio-cube- Planning 135 gallon SPS reef

09/01/2007, 09:42 PM	#10
coast2coast7390 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 3,627	it most likely go after macro and hir algae i had an urchin that sat on its side and started to eat a strand of Carlupa

09/01/2007, 10:14 PM	#11
michaeljames Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 737	it is an urchin, and it will eat coralline algae but if you already have a good base of coralline it will replenish itself faster than the urchin can eat it. IMO a very interesting addition to any tank, shouldn't cause you any problems, he will grow fast though! __________________ "This tastes like crap!" "Well here, try it with some selcon and garlic..." Current Tank Info: 180g RR AGA 2 x 250w SE MH 1 x 175 SE MH 2 x 6' Super atinic VHO Iwaki 100 return Reef Octopus Skimmer

09/01/2007, 10:42 PM	#12
seabisque Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wadsworth,OH Posts: 115	still looks like a featherduster from the aerial view and some algae __________________ heather Current Tank Info: 39 gallon cycling

09/02/2007, 12:52 AM	#13
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	(In a strong austrian accent) It's not a dusta! __________________ We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.

09/02/2007, 12:55 AM	#14
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	That's about as urchin as urchin gets?? Do you have a pic of a feather duster that even remotely looks like that? I'd love to see it.. __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO

09/02/2007, 12:55 AM	#15
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	Double post sorry __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO

09/02/2007, 12:56 AM	#16
Ben485 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 195 Blog Entries: 1	don't touch that featherdusta it will hurt ya bad!!!!

09/02/2007, 04:30 AM	#17
currentking Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Palm Bay Florida Posts: 868	I also thought it was an urchin, but I wasnt sure if it was reef safe. So from what I gather it is reef safe, just dont touch it because it is not "me" safe, correct?

09/02/2007, 09:35 AM	#18
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	I wouldn't say don't touch it, but certainly be careful. It's not going to jump off the glass and sink its fangs into you or anything like that, but those spines can be very sharp and extremely painful if you jab a finger on one. . .or a foot. I've done that. . .OUCH! __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

09/02/2007, 09:44 AM	#19
bluetmax Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 243	It looks to me like a regular long spined urchin, and to my knowledge they aren't venomous. You said you just noticed it. Was this a hitchiker on some rock? I wouldn't pick it up and use it to scratch my eye with it if I had an itch, however. lol If you just gently "scoop" it up and don't mash it, you should be OK if you opt to move it. The only draw-back IMO, is they munch on corralline, and get HUGE if it is indeed the long spine. I've been wrong before though. lol __________________ Dustin bluetmax@aol.com Current Tank Info: 60 Gallon SPS dominated mixed reef; 55 Gallon FOWLR; 20 Gallon Mixed Reef; 20 Gallon FOWLR; 10 gallon Mixed Reef

09/02/2007, 10:30 AM	#20
Theomi Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 224	They are as venemous as a bee sting __________________ Now with DSB Retired tank; 150g reef tank, 42g sump, deltec 4040 return pump, Aquaconnect riga 2x250w mh with 2x39w atininic, tunze 6045 & 6080, deltec ap600 skimmer and 4" sandbed Murphys law "Anything that can possibly go wrong, does" applies especially to reefers Current Tank Info: 50 gallon in the making

09/02/2007, 12:23 PM	#21
currentking Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Palm Bay Florida Posts: 868	it was a hitchhiker. Thanks for the info

09/02/2007, 02:58 PM	#22
Saltwaterstart Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 458	Just asking this question but... Are there any small urchins? __________________ -Geoff A hero need not speak. When he is gone, the world will speak for him. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon bio-cube- Planning 135 gallon SPS reef

09/02/2007, 04:04 PM	#23
ferg822 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 173	do these things grow in your tank without doing anything. dont u have to bye urchins or whatever it is __________________ Ferg :p Current Tank Info: Not much but some

09/02/2007, 04:08 PM	#24
Saltwaterstart Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 458	You usually have to buy urchins because they are considered part of a clean up crew. They eat hair algae, but leave corals alone. Urchins around my area are about $20.00 __________________ -Geoff A hero need not speak. When he is gone, the world will speak for him. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon bio-cube- Planning 135 gallon SPS reef

09/02/2007, 04:52 PM	#25
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	I had two urchins show up in my tank that were hitch hikers. They don't need any special treatment, just some alage and coraline. Watch out,they they don't harm coral per'se but they do act like bulldosers. Any rock that can be moved,will be when they get big enough.. __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO