Please ID this Urchin w/ pic

sjj80 · 02/28/2010, 06:17 PM

The lfs said he was an atlantic sea urchin, but I haven't seen any that have a white body with purple spines, were they right?

When the urchin is not under metal halide or flourescent lighting the body looks gold-yellow

sjj80 · 02/28/2010, 09:39 PM

Anyone?

This guy is active! More so then the last pincushion urchin i had, I just wish I knew exactly what kind this guy is.

gofor100 · 02/28/2010, 10:17 PM

I have two of those... but no idea what kind they are. I do know though that they are better algae eaters than anything else I have.

Octoshark · 02/28/2010, 10:38 PM

Fish stores will make up names or just use something very broad and generic when they dont know what something is.

gofor100 · 02/28/2010, 10:41 PM

Mine didn't try to give them a special name... they just called it "Sea Urchin"... but I know what you mean Octoshark

Lunareclipse · 02/28/2010, 10:52 PM

I know what you mean about it anything that they think fits. At the pet shop, I was told it was a Sea Robin. Now I am coming to find out it was a Flying Gurnard.

sjj80 · 02/28/2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gofor100

I have two of those... but no idea what kind they are. I do know though that they are better algae eaters than anything else I have.

Good to know, I bought mine hoping it would take care of my stubborn HA, plus he looks so different from any other urchin I've seen. Have you had any issues with it bothering corals or other inverts? Mine was actually eating a starfish when I bought him, good thing I don't have any starfish!

gofor100 · 03/01/2010, 11:55 AM

No problems at all with corals (not sure about starfish since I don't have any)... they do definitely eat HA (or at least mine do- I have two), I'm actually surprised at how quickly they can eat up some of the stuff. It does obviously take some time, but the good thing about them is that they are a lot more aware of their surroundings than say Turbo Snails who seem to knock everything off the rockwork that isn't glued down. Although, they are also prone to picking up any frags that are light enough, and carrying them around as a type of "camouflage"...

A word of advice though, if you have certain rocks with HA on them, and you find the urchin on the glass or a place that does not have much algae on it, then I would pick up the urchin and just place them on that rock since they don't always go to the places you need them to, or if they do, it takes them a while to get there.

Of course, having said all of that, you want to make sure that you also fix the cause of the HA (i.e., excess nutrients), otherwise it will all come back.

Hope this helps and good luck with the urchin!

ArgonDreams · 03/01/2010, 01:29 PM

This it?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...12&pcatid=2912

gofor100 · 03/01/2010, 05:20 PM

That's what I have...

sjj80 · 03/01/2010, 09:27 PM

Yep that's the one I have as well. I may buy another from liveaquaria if they get more in stock, very cool looking.

02/28/2010, 06:17 PM	#1
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	Please ID this Urchin w/ pic The lfs said he was an atlantic sea urchin, but I haven't seen any that have a white body with purple spines, were they right? When the urchin is not under metal halide or flourescent lighting the body looks gold-yellow __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab! Last edited by sjj80; 02/28/2010 at 06:39 PM.

02/28/2010, 09:39 PM	#2
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	Anyone? This guy is active! More so then the last pincushion urchin i had, I just wish I knew exactly what kind this guy is. __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

02/28/2010, 10:17 PM	#3
gofor100 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,225	I have two of those... but no idea what kind they are. I do know though that they are better algae eaters than anything else I have. __________________ "FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD" Current Tank Info: Tank Build in Progress

02/28/2010, 10:38 PM	#4
Octoshark Marine Biology Student Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,366	Fish stores will make up names or just use something very broad and generic when they dont know what something is. __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

02/28/2010, 10:41 PM	#5
gofor100 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,225	Mine didn't try to give them a special name... they just called it "Sea Urchin"... but I know what you mean Octoshark __________________ "FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD" Current Tank Info: Tank Build in Progress

02/28/2010, 10:52 PM	#6
Lunareclipse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 27	I know what you mean about it anything that they think fits. At the pet shop, I was told it was a Sea Robin. Now I am coming to find out it was a Flying Gurnard.

03/01/2010, 11:55 AM	#8
gofor100 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,225	No problems at all with corals (not sure about starfish since I don't have any)... they do definitely eat HA (or at least mine do- I have two), I'm actually surprised at how quickly they can eat up some of the stuff. It does obviously take some time, but the good thing about them is that they are a lot more aware of their surroundings than say Turbo Snails who seem to knock everything off the rockwork that isn't glued down. Although, they are also prone to picking up any frags that are light enough, and carrying them around as a type of "camouflage"... A word of advice though, if you have certain rocks with HA on them, and you find the urchin on the glass or a place that does not have much algae on it, then I would pick up the urchin and just place them on that rock since they don't always go to the places you need them to, or if they do, it takes them a while to get there. Of course, having said all of that, you want to make sure that you also fix the cause of the HA (i.e., excess nutrients), otherwise it will all come back. Hope this helps and good luck with the urchin! __________________ "FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD" Current Tank Info: Tank Build in Progress

03/01/2010, 01:29 PM	#9
ArgonDreams Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 384	This it? http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...12&pcatid=2912

03/01/2010, 05:20 PM	#10
gofor100 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,225	That's what I have... __________________ "FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD" Current Tank Info: Tank Build in Progress

03/01/2010, 09:27 PM	#11
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	Yep that's the one I have as well. I may buy another from liveaquaria if they get more in stock, very cool looking. __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!