Pincushion urchin

knl222 · Mar 23, 2023

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zs2X3KTgtaPrgHAE7
I need help. I added this urchin yesterday after acclimating it and it was moving around really well and seemed fine. Come to this morning and it wasn't moving, I wondered if it was hungry so I put another algae pellet under by it, wouldn't move though. Hours later it started to lose spikes and I couldn't figure out what had happened. I don't think it was anything to do with the water as nothing had changed over the night(I tested everything), it still hasn't moved but hasn't lost all of it spikes and I think they stopped falling off. Could it be molting or just stressed out. Please someone

Timfish · Mar 23, 2023

I may not ahve anything to do with your system. Stress is a definite since it's just been moved to a new system but it could have some underlying issue, physical damage may not be visisble unitl the skeleton is exposed for example.

SteveMM62Reef · Mar 23, 2023

I don’t think they do very well traveling in plastic bags, as they can’t attach to the bags and are banged around on the way home. I prefer to use what I call a Chinese soup container, as they can attach to them. Also I prefer the Tuxedo Urchins above all the others, they generally don’t cause or get into trouble. BTW, Stay away from Rock Borers, some can even etch glass.

Typhon · Mar 23, 2023

Normally urchins seem not to show underling issue until it too late like Clams.

Also, did you expose the urchin to air?

knl222 · Mar 23, 2023

Timfish said:
I may not ahve anything to do with your system. Stress is a definite since it's just been moved to a new system but it could have some underlying issue, physical damage may not be visisble unitl the skeleton is exposed for example.

It's been two days now but it hasn't lost all its spines yet, but it won't move and don't think it's eating. I had put a algae disk under it but don't think it ate any of it, should I just euthanize it, cause I don't know if it's alive or dying.

Timfish · Mar 24, 2023

knl222 said:
It's been two days now but it hasn't lost all its spines yet, but it won't move and don't think it's eating. I had put a algae disk under it but don't think it ate any of it, should I just euthanize it, cause I don't know if it's alive or dying.

I guess the decision on euthanizing would be based on how it looks. If the remaining spines are laying flat that's a bad sign. If the remaining spines are being held upright I would take it as a sign of life. Even better is if they are upright and you gently bump it with your finger and it moves all the upright spines.