Long Spine Urchin Reef Safe????

I was thinking about getting a long spine urchin cause first of all, they look REALLY cool and would like some algae to be picked up. Some people say they are safe and some do not? What is the answer??

 

I have a standard issue black longspine and he has been completely reef safe. Hasnt bulldozed anything. It's probably a around 4" wide from spine to spine. Real entertaining critter as it wanders the tank. Family love it.

Check this badbody over in the DD section:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733 4&ddid=121064

I've seen them a couple times & would love one but I think 2 in my 75 would be a battle to starvation.

 

In want a longspine urchin too. As long as frags are glued down, the only thin you will have to worry about is coraline growth/removal - by the urchin.

^ That blue spot loooks awesome! ^

 

As with just about anything, nothing is *perfectly* reef safe...

I don't see any harm in getting one, but there are a few things that I would consider...

1. they can bulldoze... this shouldn't be too big of a deal if your rockwork and frags are all secure.

2. They will eat coralline algae... if you don't want your coralline to be eaten, then you should consider this...

3. They CAN eat coral... I have had my pincushion urchin eat small amounts of my encrusting monti once... it grew back, and I haven't noticed it happen in a long time, but it did happen, and so I think it's worth mentioning...

4. The long-spined ones can poke your fingers and hurt really bad if you're not careful when you stick your hands in your tank... as forgetful as I am, I wouldn't want to chance sticking my hand in the tank for some maintenance to find out the hard way exactly where my urchin is....

 

That and the fact that they get freaking HUGE. Have you ever seen them in the wild? I've seen them with 10" spikes! Don't know if they'll live long enough in a tank to get to that, but there was someone not long ago selling one because they had a foot wide tank & it was touching both sides.

 

Holy Moley! Thanks for the comments guys! My lfs has a really nice one but it is in their show tank and they told me they cant get it for me. I will keep trying though!!! I think they are awesome little creatures and will post pictures when i get one. Yea, i dont think he will move too much around considering each of my live rock is atleast 10 lbs for each piece.

Khowst, please post a picture of that guy!! I would LOVE to see it!

 

Yea, aren't they venemous?

 

There are 2 species that are generally available in the hobby. One gets about 4 inches in diameter, the other over a foot. There is not much of a difference when just looking at them. If I remember correctly, the coloring around the exit hole is the difference.

 

Yeah, snorkeling at a beach in mexico, they were everywhere and huge, maybe a bit bigger than that actually. Kind of scary... Then you look over and see all the swimmers wading in the water, little do they know .

 

I have seen fish use them as a weapon and chase other fish into them over and over.