Help with urchin

parentj3 · Feb 6, 2023

Received a purple pincushion today shipped Wednesday of last week was delayed was supposed to be here Thursday of last week arrived toady hasn't moved yet still has all its spine, any thoughts? Thanks.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 6, 2023

parentj3 said:
Received a purple pincushion today shipped Wednesday of last week was delayed was supposed to be here Thursday of last week arrived toady hasn't moved yet still has all its spine, any thoughts? Thanks.

Allow to warm up and assure salinity was equalized before release

Jay Hemdal · Feb 7, 2023

parentj3 said:
Received a purple pincushion today shipped Wednesday of last week was delayed was supposed to be here Thursday of last week arrived toady hasn't moved yet still has all its spine, any thoughts? Thanks.

Are the spines sticking out like a pincushion, or laying down? If laying down, it is likely dead. I use the "nose test" on urchins after a day or two - take it to the surface and smell it, if it stinks, then its dead.

Jay

MnFish1 · Feb 7, 2023

+1 on the smell test. The good news is that many urchins CAN be used to more adverse conditions. Hope it works out

parentj3 · Feb 7, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
Are the spines sticking out like a pincushion, or laying down? If laying down, it is likely dead. I use the "nose test" on urchins after a day or two - take it to the surface and smell it, if it stinks, then its dead.

Jay, the spines were all down and the water and bag it was shipped in was pretty nasty, thick and milky kinda

Jay Hemdal · Feb 7, 2023

Hi, your post was blank at my end….

Jay

parentj3 · Feb 7, 2023

Sorry about that, the spines were all down and hadn't moved all day, the water in the shipping bag was pretty cold, also kinda think and milky.

Jay Hemdal · Feb 7, 2023

parentj3 said:
Sorry about that, the spines were all down and hadn't moved all day, the water in the shipping bag was pretty cold, also kinda think and milky.

If the spines aren’t moving at all and/or any are falling off, I think it is probably dead. You can take it out and set in on a surface and watch for movement though.
Jay