My Urchins will not graze my rocks

[Reefahholic]

I’ve had three Urchins for two weeks at least. For some odd reason these are lazy. They hide out under the rocks all day right at the base. Sometimes one of them cruise’s around the sandbed, but none of them have got on top of the rocks yet.

Has anybody had this happen before? I have two Brown Short Spine and one Black Rock Urchin.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Thanks. Good information!

 

[Reefahholic]

Thanks. Good information!

I know they typically hide out during the day and feed on the rocks at night, but these don’t get on the rocks day or night. Maybe they’re broken? Lol

I’m tempted to buy and Pincushion and see what he’ll do?!!

 

[davidcalgary29]

They certainly will graze on your rocks at night, but they're camouflage experts and often hard to see. You'll have to set up a cam with night vision if you want to see them work the rocks. Weeks can go by before I see one of mine peek out.

Variegated urchins are active throughout the day. I personally prefer tuxedo urchins for their snazzy looks, although they have a tendency to pick up and carry around anything not glued down to the aquascape. My personal favourite, though, is my ever-expanding, venomous, and gorgeous fire urchin, which is diurnal and definitely NOT reef safe

 

[blaxsun]

My personal favourite, though, is my ever-expanding, venomous, and gorgeous fire urchin, which is diurnal and definitely NOT reef safe

We'll have to compare notes of "what will my fire urchin eat next?"

 

[Reefahholic]

I think my last one was a pincushion, but it’s been about 10 years I can’t remember what he was. He definitely picked up literally everything in the tank. Frags, snails, rocks, sand, etc. That is pretty annoying.

 

[Reefahholic]

@Cantusaurus helped me decide on the ones I wanted. He posted a great thread.

Worth the read if you need to knock down some Algae.

Urchin Appreciation Thread/Reef Safe Urchins

I love urchins!! I think they are one of the best CUC members, and are a really cool looking invert! I'd like to star this Urchin thread for everyone to talk about the experiences they've had with urchins. My goal is also to educate people who want an urchin or are researching CUC since they...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Reefahholic]

Here’s one by the glass:

The other two are right by each other where they have been for 2 weeks!

 

[Miami Reef]

I know they typically hide out during the day and feed on the rocks at night, but these don’t get on the rocks day or night. Maybe they’re broken? Lol

I’m tempted to buy and Pincushion and see what he’ll do?!!

I have this one and IME they don’t really eat algae either. I bought 2 and one already died while the other one is dying. The tuxedo is doing great and I can clearly see it eating.

I have had the best experience with tuxedo urchins.

 

[Reefahholic]

I have this one and IME they don’t really eat algae either. I bought 2 and one already died while the other one is dying. The tuxedo is doing great and I can clearly see it eating.

I have had the best experience with tuxedo urchins.

Good to know man thanks for the information. Looks like I may have made a wrong decision.

 

[Dburr1014]

My pincushion has been munching on the Coraline but my tuxedo has been going in the hair algae beds.

 

[Reefahholic]

My pincushion has been munching on the Coraline but my tuxedo has been going in the hair algae beds.

I guess I will try a tux!

 

[HuduVudu]

@Reefahholic I had an urchin that very much looked like that and very much did what you said. Turns out he got all the nutrition that he needed from grazing my coral.

Tuxedo does as intended for me.

 

[All_talk]

I've had a pincushion for a few years now, coraline is its preference, but it will eat other algae.

 

[Reefahholic]

I've had a pincushion for a few years now, coraline is its preference, but it will eat other algae.

It’s interesting they perfer coralline. Must be tasty to them.

 

[G Santana]

I have a pin cushion and when I first got him he was a GHA terror you could see huge swaths of GHA laid bare by him during the night but as the tank matured and he had less algae to feast on he started surfing the glass and inevitably found the nori clip.
Now he spends time between the glass and bottom and doesn't go much on the rocks.
Give your boys some time, they will take the algae.

 

[Reefahholic]

he started surfing the glass and inevitably found the nori clip.

Now that is funny.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

It’s interesting they perfer coralline. Must be tasty to them.

All urchins eat coralline...

 

[Kmst80]

It’s interesting they perfer coralline. Must be tasty to them.

I read somewhere coraline is like chocolate for them.
I got 3 boring urchins and 2 move around at night but one is always in the same spot, go figure. Amazing though what smal gaps they fit in and how they squish their body.