What is this creature?!

Discussion in 'ID This!' started by brew0688, Jun 14, 2011.

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  1. brew0688

    brew0688 Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2010
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    Location:
    Florida
    Hi everyone.

    So I went out fishing in the gulf of mexico the other day... I stopped on the way home and parked the boat on a sandbar... low tide. I picked up at least 30-40 little snails and about 15 small hermits for my 90G. They're doing an awesome job of cleaning up.

    I also came across what I believe to be an urchin? I'm not positive though. It's around the size of a quater, and is purple in color. It has these.... tentacle looking feelers that pulse outward.... and it continues to pick up as many hermits / snails as it can carry ontop of it. Is this a defense mechanism? It is eating loads of algae though.

    Take a peek and tell me what it is please. :)

    [​IMG]
    IMG_1477 by Brett Marillier, on Flickr
     
    brew0688, Jun 14, 2011
    brew0688, Jun 14, 2011
    #1

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  2. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

    Joined:
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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Urchin, using it's tubular feet to walk around.
     
    Corailline, Jun 14, 2011
    Corailline, Jun 14, 2011
    #2
  3. civiccars2003

    civiccars2003 Great Blue Whale

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    Akron Ohio
    Yup. Agreed.
     
    civiccars2003, Jun 14, 2011
    civiccars2003, Jun 14, 2011
    #3
  4. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    Avery nice looking urchin
     
    2in10, Jun 14, 2011
    2in10, Jun 14, 2011
    #4
  5. antole

    antole Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2011
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    Location:
    Etters, PA
    Great looking urchin
     
    antole, Jun 14, 2011
    antole, Jun 14, 2011
    #5
  6. TruespeedEM1

    TruespeedEM1 Skunk Shrimp

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    Oct 22, 2010
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    Location:
    North Carolina
    most urchins will take rock rubble (or in this case shells) and use them as camouflage. From what I've read, if it is doing that, then that is a sign of good health.
     
    TruespeedEM1, Jun 14, 2011
    TruespeedEM1, Jun 14, 2011
    #6

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  7. pgoodsell

    pgoodsell Horrid Stonefish

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    oops edit
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2011
    pgoodsell, Jun 14, 2011
    pgoodsell, Jun 14, 2011
    #7
  8. xmetalfan99

    xmetalfan99 Giant Squid

    Joined:
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    morgantown, wv
    Sea urchin.

    Why people take stuff from the wild and introduce it to their tanks without knowing what it is boggles my mind.
     
    xmetalfan99, Jun 14, 2011
    xmetalfan99, Jun 14, 2011
    #8
    1 person likes this.
  9. N3MATOCYST

    N3MATOCYST Spaghetti Worm

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    Jun 13, 2011
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    Location:
    Long Beach, Cali
    i would worry about introducing a bacteria or some other invasive organism to your tank. wow really you would bring stuff home and not know what it was? hahaha.... seriously?
     
    N3MATOCYST, Jun 14, 2011
    N3MATOCYST, Jun 14, 2011
    #9
  10. Ron P

    Ron P Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2011
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    Location:
    Florence, Ky
    Looks like a pincushion urchin to me too.

    Here's a link to what liveaquaria has to say about them. Not sure how accurate the info is but should give you a jumping off point to do a little research about them. According to them they come in red, white, blue and purple and grow to about 8 inches.

    Saltwater Aquarium Invertebrates for Marine Aquariums: Pincushion Urchin
     
    Ron P, Jun 14, 2011
    Ron P, Jun 14, 2011
    #10
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