Sick Blue Tuxedo Urching :(

My Urchin has lost all of the blue and most of the spines from this side of him. The spot originally started out as a green splotch and has gone to this in a matter of a few days . I don't have a quarantine tank
Here it is: imgur: the simple image sharer

 

Unfortunately once urchins start to loose spines it's a very bad sign.

Moving it to a QT will probably just facilitate it's demise.

Pretty much all you can do is make sure SG specifically and other parameters are in line. Feed it nori or other algae as able. You may not have enough algae or even coralline algae to meet it's nutritional needs.

Urchins come with a whole host of internal parasites, that is just the way it is.

 

I have been spot feeding it with these, are they fine?Aquarium Fish Foods: Hikari Algae Wafers

 

Not sure, I have never used those, seems like it would be ok, I know people feed them to sea hares with success.

I fed nori, my tuxedo loved green hair algae and coralline algae.

One of my favorite inverts when not mowing down frags.

They are very sensitive to swings in SG and pH, hope it pulls through for you, they are cool little critters.

 

Do you have a reverse lit refugium? Each nightly pH swing will cause accumulated stress on urchins. The reverse lighting will stabilize the pH.

If the urchin is a great aquarium monitor. If he gets sick than the could be a sign of greater issue to come.

 

Good news! The urchin has rebounded and has grown back the blue on his side

 

That's good.