Urchins growing quickly?

LizardLou · 10/04/2013, 01:22 PM

I'm pretty sure these urchins are the same itty-bitty pencil eraser sized urchins I first noticed on the rocks 2 months ago. A couple of them are now the size of a small superball. I never see them move, but they're always somewhere different. How big do they get? Any harm?

Nina51 · 10/05/2013, 06:59 AM

some say reef safe, others say not reef safe. urchins are bulldozers so the main problem with them is that they tend to knock things over. i have a tuxedo in my 29g who is a model citizen. i have a small pincushion in my 14g. he's ok but he does pick up and carry around a LOT of small stuff.

you could just watch these guys for now and if they start to mow your corals down, move them out. if you have a fuge, you could keep them in there.

ca1ore · 10/05/2013, 07:11 AM

If there is a good supply of algae for them to graze on then, yes, they do grow fast. I don't keep them anymore, because, as the prior post noted they tend to disrupt your rockwork.

10/04/2013, 01:22 PM	#1
LizardLou Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 55	Urchins growing quickly? I'm pretty sure these urchins are the same itty-bitty pencil eraser sized urchins I first noticed on the rocks 2 months ago. A couple of them are now the size of a small superball. I never see them move, but they're always somewhere different. How big do they get? Any harm?

10/05/2013, 06:59 AM	#2
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	some say reef safe, others say not reef safe. urchins are bulldozers so the main problem with them is that they tend to knock things over. i have a tuxedo in my 29g who is a model citizen. i have a small pincushion in my 14g. he's ok but he does pick up and carry around a LOT of small stuff. you could just watch these guys for now and if they start to mow your corals down, move them out. if you have a fuge, you could keep them in there. __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

10/05/2013, 07:11 AM	#3
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	If there is a good supply of algae for them to graze on then, yes, they do grow fast. I don't keep them anymore, because, as the prior post noted they tend to disrupt your rockwork.