thinking of getting an urchin

Buy Black Longspine Urchin (Diadema setosum) - Size: 2"-3" - Vivid Aquariums - Buy Online - Fish Store in Los Angeles


This one, actually.


But I don't really have any algae growth. I do have an annoying amount of coraline though.

I also have a bubble coral and that worries me.


Tank is a 55g and about 10 months old or so.


I feed my corals once a month or so. If I fed this urchin (put some meat on a spine) that often, would that be fine?

Are my concerns for my bubble overly concerned?

Don't want to get if it'll cause trouble, but I do think they're super neat.

Opinions?

 

I had one a couple of yrs ago and got rid of it.
1. They "bull-dose" everything if its not glued down.
2. They also tend to consume coraline, which many reefers dont like.


Luna

 

i saw one of these at my lfs on friday enjoying an emerald crab. not sure if he had any butter and garlic with it tho

 

I'll have to agree with Luna on this one - I have a pink urchin in my tank, and although I like it, it's always putting anything that's not glued down on its back and it will just run over small frags. They do eat a decent bit of algae and it takes bites out of my coraline, however I may have to get rid of it shortly - it's just too clumsy... I do have a friend with a longspine and he loves it, but it is mostly a fish only tank with a few softies...

 

I would pass, for a completely different reason.

I bought one about 9 months ago. Was a decent 3-4 inches. Now almost 10 inches in diameter, it can no longer move throughout the tank without breaking spines.

These things get big, fast. I'm thinking 75gal min.

 

Thanks everyone. I will pass on this.

 

I was given an urchin last weekend. It is brown and has the shorter spines. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with it, so it's in my sump for now.

 

just dont sit on it. lol

 

I have 4 of them and haven't had any problems. I have no coral so I cannot comment on bulldozing. I will say they eat coraline. I have nearly none on my glass. Also they do get big fast. I probably need to get rid of at least 2

 

That would be a Pencil Urchin....
Danny