new hitchhiker

I think its a tiny urchin of some sorts it is about the size of a nickel. I found it while investigating with a flashlight at night. any ideas? and is it reef safe?

 

Rock boring urchin. Harmless. You'll see them for a couple days and then might disappear for a month or more before you see them again.

 

I was reading about them and it said they eat coraline, do I need to worry about this or will the small amount they eat not be a big deal?

 

I personally hate coralline algae. However, even if I liked it this is not a big deal. The coralline spores they eat is excreted. In effect, they help spread coralline by eating and then going to the bathroom.

 

I've heard it referred to as a pencil urchin as a common name..

Here it is also on F&S

Saltwater Aquarium Inverts for Marine Reef Aquariums: Pencil Urchin

 

no i dont think thats a pencil urchin...doesnt look like one i have ever seen anyway...pencil urchins have thicker spines and eat corals

 

Can the same be said for bristle worms? It's been a few weeks since I have seen my 3" long bristle worm.

 

the bristleworm could be in your sandbed or inside your rock. If you really want to see it, after the lights have been off for an hour, drop a silverside into your tank. Wait 5 minutes and then shine a flashlight in there. You'll see that bristleworm plus many others.

 

i kind of want to try this but i am to afraid of what or how much may come out of the darkness

 

Your better off not knowing. Ignorance is bliss.