Long Spine Urchin question

[MR Big Head]

Does anyone have any experience with a long spine urchin munching on corals? Mine was hanging out near an alviopora frag last night, and when I looked today the frag is definitely retracted and possibly eaten.

 

[MR Big Head]

The damage done.....

 

[eatbreakfast]

Urchins, though usually coral safe can certainly eat coral. Though it is also possible for them to damage corals with their spines as they go by.

 

[Triggreef]

I have that same urchin never noticed him doing any damage. Have a couple goni and alvapora.

 

[Kershaw]

I have had long spine urchins. And normally as long as you have algae for them to eat they don't bother coral, sometimes they will irritate them while traveling but the corals normally come back just fine. I did have one start eating or hurting monties leaving damgaged spots on them. But I was running a very low nutrient system that had not coralline or any other algae

 

[Grey Guy]

I had a long spine urchin in a fish only tank and fed it veggie food. It would come charging out after it even in the daytime. No kidding, when I bought it it was 2 inches across and when I took it back to the LFS it was at least 10 inches. I grew a sea monster. They are well known to knock down reef scrapes. I love them, but I wouldn't put one in a reef tank.

 

[keddre]

Mine, personally doesn't eat algae. That being said, my lfs have had a couple cases where people have brought back urchins because they were munching on corals.

My theory is as follows: Urchins, when well fed, will ignore corals but will start eating them when they near starvation. On the same note, urchins that have eaten corals before, will have a high chance of eating corals in the future, regardless of how much algae is available.

 

[Angel Lee]

Yup. Caught mine eating a Monti Cap. He went to a new home. He was fine for a year then started eating my SPS. He had plenty to eat too. I fed him Nori and Romaine.