Baby Urchin... But it's White?

[dangles]

I recently discovered a baby sea urchin in my tank. It's a relatively new tank, and I have 2 urchins there already, but given the short duration the tank has been up, and that I've only seen this one, I doubt my 2 urchins spawned. I did just get an order of TBS live sand, which I suspect is the source.

But he's white. In the photos of baby urchins I've found, they're all already brown. He's about the size of a pee. See below...

These are the best photos I can get so far. He's been cruising around "leveling up" his "armor" every day

Any thoughts?

 

[crazyfishmom]

I recently discovered a baby sea urchin in my tank. It's a relatively new tank, and I have 2 urchins there already, but given the short duration the tank has been up, and that I've only seen this one, I doubt my 2 urchins spawned. I did just get an order of TBS live sand, which I suspect is the source.

But he's white. In the photos of baby urchins I've found, they're all already brown. He's about the size of a pee. See below...

These are the best photos I can get so far. He's been cruising around "leveling up" his "armor" every day

Any thoughts?

Albino maybe? Not unheard of.

 

[Cthulukelele]

When pink pincushions aren't super healthy they can turn white, and those are super common in tbs live rock/sand. They're totally reef safe but eat a lot and can get baseball-almost softball sized. Mine has grown from a golf ball to a baseball size in about a year

 

[Rjukan]

@LiverockRocks

Let's see if they have seen them before!

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

When pink pincushions aren't super healthy they can turn white, and those are super common in tbs live rock/sand. They're totally reef safe but eat a lot and can get baseball-almost softball sized. Mine has grown from a golf ball to a baseball size in about a year

I got a pink one as a baby too from TBS at like an eraser size and in 2 months he's ping ball size. they grow up so fast ;-)

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I got this guy a few months ago from my LFS. White with pink tips.

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

Tiny pincushions are adorable; juveniles we see are cream, light grey or faint pink.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

As it Pigs out on all that Coraline, it will get some color.