Killer urchin hunting snails

[Key-tie]

I recently got a pincushion urchin about 3 weeks ago.
Tank is established for 2 years.
"Archie" the urchin has been prowling around the tank happily eating algae and cleaning rocks, and when i left today he was about 3 inches from one of my large turbo snails on the glass.
I didnt think anything of it as i went to work, but when i came home, Archie had the turbo snail (which is as big as he is) and had flipped the shell over and was actively eating him.
I attempted to pull them apart, and he just flared all his spikes and held on.
I figured there was no sense hurting the urchin for a snail that was surely already killed.
I know for a fact the snail was active and healthy, as he was one of the 2 big turbos that were in my tank since the beginning.
I saw Archie following and checking out some of my sea slugs before, but thought he was just curious...
So, apparently, pincushion urchins will actively hunt and kill prey, and not only eat algae.
Here he is chomping the turbo that is basically his size.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Maybe it's just cleaning algae from inside the shell

 

[Key-tie]

Maybe it's just cleaning algae from inside the shell

Yea...lol
I have my fingers crossed on that one.

 

[Key-tie]

If he picks off my other big turbo, I'll have to re-name him CHUCKIE.
Lol

 

[GainesvilleReef]

He is just using the shell as camouflage. Urchins pick up everything they can and try to hide behind it.

Here is one of mine having a bad hair day.

 

[MONTANTK]

Yeah they tend to grab onto anything they can. It would happen all the time with my hermits or even snails. It probably wasn’t intending on eating the snail but I could be wrong

 

[Key-tie]

I would agree on the camouflage point if it wasnt for the fact that this was a big, active, almost 2 year old snail.
Lol
Unless he wanted the shell so bad he took him out ??
I guess ill know more when he finishes with it and I see if he goes after my other golf-ball sized turbo.

 

[Key-tie]

Here he is, almost 24 hours after the attack.
Still will not let it go, but hasnt moved from that original spot of the attack.
Also, i believe if it was for camo, it wouldn't be attached over the urchins mouth, it would be on the other side.
From as close as i can get, it looks like he almost has the shell sucked clean.

 

[Key-tie]

In my opinion, it was a stone cold killing

 

[Key-tie]

Here is the aftermath of the incident...
We will see if it was an accident...lol...or if he takes down my other snail thats his size soon.

 

[Cole.mormon]

L.m.a.o.

 

[Cole.mormon]

lol