Does this tuxedo urchin look healthy?

[efish]

Hi this tuxedo urchin at my lfs looks cool but I am not sure it is healthy, it's spines move a little but I don't see any tentacles should I get it or will it die soon?

 

[Timfish]

No, it doesn't. How long have you had it? How often are you doing water changes? Are you running GAC? If not it might be a good idea to do so.

 

[efish]

No, it doesn't. How long have you had it? How often are you doing water changes? Are you running GAC? If not it might be a good idea to do so.

It isn't mine yet still at lfs... what is GAC? But in the lfs how long do you think it will last?

 

[Timfish]

Don't get it. It's possible it's just stressed and will recover but moving it to another system would just subject it to more stress and would not be beneficial. It's quite possible it suffered some damage in the recent past, I've had urchins die only to see cracked or broken "shells" after the spines and tissue fell off.

GAC is Granulated Activated Carbon, often reffered to as just "carbon" But is very, very different from Carbon Dosing which is adding labile forms of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) which I would never do.

 

[IsaacHunt]

Hi this tuxedo urchin at my lfs looks cool but I am not sure it is healthy, it's spines move a little but I don't see any tentacles should I get it or will it die soon?

if in doubt give it a swerve as there are plenty more where that one came from and the shop is unlikely to give you a 3 day let alone 3 month warranty on livestock

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi this tuxedo urchin at my lfs looks cool but I am not sure it is healthy, it's spines move a little but I don't see any tentacles should I get it or will it die soon?

It does not and likelihood that there is a water quality issue as they are sensitive to poor water quality especially high nitrates. Warm temperatures above 79 will stress them. Moderate light and water flow is best for overall conditions. If you have elevated levels for next 4 weeks, do regular weekly water changes which will perk it up