Urchin Dead?

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by shazane, Jul 30, 2010.

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  1. shazane

    shazane Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    My urchin which has only been in my tank for one week has been on his back in the same spot for 12 hours. Is he dead? I don't want him to start to decompose and mess up my water but i don't want to take him out if he still has a chance.
     
    shazane, Jul 30, 2010
    shazane, Jul 30, 2010
    #1

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  2. kcbrad

    kcbrad Giant Squid

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    Usually it's not a good sign if it's exposing its underside...try gently "poking" him with something to see if he responds. If not, he may be dead.
     
    kcbrad, Jul 30, 2010
    kcbrad, Jul 30, 2010
    #2
  3. grubbsj

    grubbsj Gigas Clam

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    If he is dead, then very soon you'll start to see the spines start to drop off...when ours died, it was about 12 hours and we could clearly tell that it had expired...
     
    grubbsj, Jul 30, 2010
    grubbsj, Jul 30, 2010
    #3
  4. Nightstick

    Nightstick Purple Spiny Lobster

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    Urchins don't like bad params, salinity is the most important thing. When you go to move him you will know right away if he is having issues, his spines will begin to fall off! Send us a pic we will help more if we can?
     
    Nightstick, Jul 30, 2010
    Nightstick, Jul 30, 2010
    #4
  5. Peredhil

    Peredhil Giant Squid

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    *maybe* you're not clear on which side is the belly? (Just guessing, you're probably well aware, no offense).

    Urchins come out at night and don't move at all during the day (at least mine). So mine sits still for 12 hours or so every day... Maybe you're not expecting that? I don't know what your experience is so thought I'd mention it.
     
    Peredhil, Jul 30, 2010
    Peredhil, Jul 30, 2010
    #5
  6. Peredhil

    Peredhil Giant Squid

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    also, I wouldn't worry at all about a decomposing urchin... that's what a CuC is for...
     
    Peredhil, Jul 30, 2010
    Peredhil, Jul 30, 2010
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  7. shazane

    shazane Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    Just poked the urchin and there seems to be a bunch of its spines surrounding it on the sand. Pretty sure it is dead... But why? Salinity is 1.025 and all of my numbers checked out before i bought it. Maybe my tank isn't ready for a urchin? If I didnt have onough algae could he have starved already?

    My 90 gallon tank is currently 10 months old with 100 pounds of live rock.
    Currently have:
    Sailfin Tang
    Blue Tang
    Chromis Damsel
    Purple Stripe Dottyback
    Emarld Green Crab
    Cleaner Shrimp
    Peppermint shrimp (2)
    Coral Banded Shrimp
    20 Nassuris snails
    10 nerite snails
    5 hermit crabs
    etc...
     
    shazane, Jul 30, 2010
    shazane, Jul 30, 2010
    #7
  8. Dredfish

    Dredfish Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    Could be just stress from being new to the tank.
     
    Dredfish, Jul 30, 2010
    Dredfish, Jul 30, 2010
    #8
  9. kcbrad

    kcbrad Giant Squid

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    Did he move at all when you touched him? Did his spines move? (besides the ones that fell off)
     
    kcbrad, Jul 30, 2010
    kcbrad, Jul 30, 2010
    #9
  10. levi

    levi Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    urchins are usually the first to go downhill when the time comes, public aquariums use them as warning signs to determin fluctuations in water quality , they are extra sensetive, what type of urchin is it?
     
    levi, Jul 30, 2010
    levi, Jul 30, 2010
    #10