Black Longspined urchin

Zoacoral · Dec 23, 2012

I bought a black longpsined urchin from Liveaquaria. It has done really well. Well, Tonight I noticed he was sitting on my frag plug with Shazaam Zoas. Well needless to say, I had 3 polyps till he started.. He cleaned one polyp clean off the frag plug. He did it Quick to as I seen all 3 polyps before the lights went out 2 hours ago. I also noticed that 1 of my black hornet frag and sunny d had been munched on..

Anyone else have problems with theres? I threw mine in the sump, He almost got tossed in the back yard!

Z-man · Dec 23, 2012

One I had ate one of my acans. A very expensive acan

Zoacoral · Dec 23, 2012

He really irritated me. I was on my way out the door to throw him in the snow and got a change of mind..

Jlobes · Dec 23, 2012

I keep mine in my sump, even since I witnessed it eating an SPS(acro) and who knows what else!! Never again in a DT, and would never tell a friend to get one.

NanaReefer · Dec 23, 2012

Research research research. They eat copious amounts of algae and will get it from where ever possible.

KLR · Dec 24, 2012

Mine carried out similar actions, but only while trying to graze algae that was in juxtaposition to the corals that ended up being damaged. Mine was always after algae near my prized LPS. Now mine is in the display, mainly FO with softies, tank in the dinning room and it has been replaced with a 2 inch red tuxedo urchin.

reefkoi · Dec 24, 2012

I've heard of them eating polyps too from other customers

Mike171 · Dec 24, 2012

Mine aye anything it came across but did spread coraline really well lol

mcarroll · Dec 24, 2012

NanaReefer said:
Research research research. They eat copious amounts of algae and will get it from where ever possible.

+1

These guys need algae like most tangs - maybe even more. Unless your tank and fuge are really hairy it's highly likely you are starving him, hence the abberant behavior. Many critters - even clean up crew - turn omnivorus when faced with starvation.

My recommendation is to try and find a new home for him and just chalk this up to experience.

-Matt

P.S. Does this thread belong in the Chemistry forum?