I have a 3 year old reef tank and everything is going very well, I have a few pajama cardinals, a pair of clowns, and most importantly a Halloween Urchin. I purchased him about a year ago and have really enjoyed him, but I've been hoping to add some Macro algae to my tank and i'm worried he will eat it. Is there any good options for macro algae or things I could do to help prevent this?
Macro algae with halloween urchin?
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Auquanut
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I've never kept halloween urchins, but from my experience with tuxedo and rose urchins, I would suspect that what doesn't get eaten might be uprooted and carried around. Hopefully someone with experience can shed a little more light.
I've never kept halloween urchins, but from my experience with tuxedo and rose urchins, I would suspect that what doesn't get eaten might be uprooted and carried around. Hopefully someone with experience can shed a little more light.
jack_aubry
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as mentioned the urchin using marco for cover is probably a bigger risk than the urchin eating it for many species. Here is a short list of some of the unpalatable species I have tested (at least for pincushion and tuxedo urchins)
Calurpa just about every species (vile weed imo)
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https://www.live-plants.com/sargassum.htm (personal favorite)
https://www.live-plants.com/redgrape.htm (might be eaten if hungry)
Ulva and Gracilaria seem to be particularly tasty. Just a note when the marco is damaged or not doing well even some of the unpalatable species will get eaten
Once established many macros are really resiliant and will keep bouncing back even with grazing pressure.
This is just a short list there are many other species that do well with urchins, but they came as hitchhikers and are not comercially availible.
Calurpa just about every species (vile weed imo)
[/URL]
[/URL]
https://www.live-plants.com/sargassum.htm (personal favorite)
https://www.live-plants.com/redgrape.htm (might be eaten if hungry)
Ulva and Gracilaria seem to be particularly tasty. Just a note when the marco is damaged or not doing well even some of the unpalatable species will get eaten
Once established many macros are really resiliant and will keep bouncing back even with grazing pressure.
This is just a short list there are many other species that do well with urchins, but they came as hitchhikers and are not comercially availible.
