2 bad urchins 1 tank

well im starting to not like urchins.i had a long spine urchin that ate xenia and zoas,i gave it to my gf thinger to put in her tank bc she only has afew leathers.last nite it was chompnig down on a horseshoe crabs shell(still alive!!!). she also has a pencil urchin and i just saw that guy chomping down on a feather duster (also alive). im getting fed up with the destruction

 

lol. Urchins are good to have...if you have the tank to support them. There should be lot's of algae, a developed tank, and generally should only have one unless you have a rather large aquarium.

 

lfs time

 

As for the crabs..have you ever fed your urchin live food? If so, he's gotten to like meat.

 

Lonspines are also generally known for being destructive to tanks-knocking rocks/corals over & sometimes eating corals. Eating the crabs isn't unusual if you've fed it live food before or if it doesn't have enough algae to feed on..

 

What size tank do you have that you can be home to a horseshoe crab?

 

exchange that one with blue tuxedo if your wanting an urchin. Only suggestion if you get one is glue your corals down, mine likes to knock them over. And if you dont really have any algae they will eat your coralline, mine has been eating mine but they will poop it out and cause the coralline to spread.

 

I 2nd Puffer Chick with the Tuxedo rec.
Here is some info:
Saltwater Aquarium Inverts for Marine Reef Aquariums: Pincushion Urchin, Blue Tuxedo

I am actually looking for one of those right now.


Edit: (Some) Long spines are not reef-safe.

matt

 

we have never fed it live food. he was in my 225 tank with tons of gha.the pencil uchin was never fed live food either unless it ate pods... the horse shoe crab is now in her 55 that has been running for about 2 years, its still a baby. we have them at the local beach so we took it from the beach and we will return it there when it outgrows the tank. it has been in the tank for about 8 months i think now so he must have enough food.he was a lowtide rescue. we thought he was dea but he wound up being alive so e took him home.i think wer going to trade them in.

 

Can't go wrong with a tuxedo. I'm a proud owner of 2;D