Pretty neat.....to a point.

[Bradley Crocker]

I got this urchin as a hitchhiker. When I first saw it, its test was less than 1/2" and in a few months time it has grown to about 2" over 4" counting the spines.

First, what species is it? I keep coming up with a type of rock urchin, but nothing really specific. Its spines are fairly uniform in length and kind of purple. The rest of it is jet black. Its diet appears to consist of mainly coralline algae.

Second, how large will it get?

And last, how do I get it out of my tank and transport it without hurting it (and me)? I'd like to donate it to my lfs if they'll have it.

Hopefully the pics help. It's hard to focus with black on black, but my phone does pretty good.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hyde2406]

Lionfishlair?

 

[Bradley Crocker]

Thanks Hyde2406. Maybe Maritimer too? I don't know how to tag people but, in my limited time here, he seems pretty on point with his ID's.

Ha! That's two unintended puns!

 

[Maritimer]

Hi, Bradley!

Alas, while I'm honored to be mentioned in the same context as @Lionfish Lair, I can't really identify this fellow much beyond "purple rock urchin". There are urchins with medium-length purple spines from both the Northeastern U.S. and the Pacific kelp forests, as well as down into the Florida Keys - it seems to be a pretty common bodyplan for sea urchins! It may be difficult, in a lot of cases, to get a proper identification down to species for a creature that comes in attached to liverock.

These guys have varying degrees of reef-safeness. Some are probably OK, but others can be far more carnivorous. Years ago, a friend of mine placed one of the Northeast U.S. varieties into his tank. The next time he saw it, it was parked atop the tube of his Hawaiian feather duster. At the moment, he thought nothing of it ... but he never saw that duster again. Some of them will even bore a hole into the liverock!

~Bruce

 

[James Jordan]

Use the @ before their name @Bradley Crocker

 

[Bradley Crocker]

Would it help if I was 99% sure it came from Florida?

 

[Bradley Crocker]

Use the @ before their name @Bradley Crocker

Awesome! Thanks!

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I don't know what species, sorry. When I picked up our long spine, I would aim for a single spine, grab it between my thumb and forefinger and take them out that way. I think it's a wise choice to donate that.

 

[Bradley Crocker]

I don't know what species, sorry. When I picked up our long spine, I would aim for a single spine, grab it between my thumb and forefinger and take them out that way. I think it's a wise choice to donate that.

Thank you! I would have never thought of that.

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

It's a purple urchin there all over cali over here

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Thank you! I would have never thought of that.

You gotta be careful, though. The spines start moving like crazy when they know you're after them.

 

[Bradley Crocker]

Hi, Bradley!

Alas, while I'm honored to be mentioned in the same context as @Lionfish Lair, I can't really identify this fellow much beyond "purple rock urchin". There are urchins with medium-length purple spines from both the Northeastern U.S. and the Pacific kelp forests, as well as down into the Florida Keys - it seems to be a pretty common bodyplan for sea urchins! It may be difficult, in a lot of cases, to get a proper identification down to species for a creature that comes in attached to liverock.

These guys have varying degrees of reef-safeness. Some are probably OK, but others can be far more carnivorous. Years ago, a friend of mine placed one of the Northeast U.S. varieties into his tank. The next time he saw it, it was parked atop the tube of his Hawaiian feather duster. At the moment, he thought nothing of it ... but he never saw that duster again. Some of them will even bore a hole into the liverock!

~Bruce

The problem with figuring out what this guy is exactly has been when you search for rock or purple urchins, you get 20 very different species with the same common name(s). My rock is from the west Atlantic/Caribbean reefs along the South Florida coast. Had you not mentioned the keys, I wouldn't have stumbled across Echinometra lucunter. I'm not 100%, but the description is pretty spot on. Looks like there's a couple different color variants.

You deserve more credit than you give yourself. Thank you.

 

[Bradley Crocker]

You gotta be careful, though. The spines start moving like crazy when they know you're after them.

Huh. Well...that's discomforting...so what are some other catch and release techniques you know of?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

LOL! Wuss!

 

[Bradley Crocker]

LOL! Wuss!

Yup. I mean...no way! I'm totally gonna do it! How tightly do they hold on to the rock? Am I going to pull its spines off like kids do with daddy long legs?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Are you gonna be mad at me if you get stuck? That's how I moved them, but I can't say I've never been stuck by mine. So, there's that...

I never accidentally removed a spine, so if he's nice and healthy that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Bradley Crocker]

Are you gonna be mad at me if you get stuck? That's how I moved them, but I can't say I've never been stuck by mine. So, there's that...

I never accidentally removed a spine, so if he's nice and healthy that shouldn't be a problem.

Not at all. I watch people do things all the time, thinking "wow, I bet that's going to hurt," and when it happens and I giggle like a school girl. I'll let you know how it goes, and maybe you'll get a good laugh.
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Lionfish Lair]

*Smiling like a Cheshire cat*

 

[Flashy Fins]

It's very pretty! I don't think I'd pick one up without some kind of tongs, but I am terrified of being stabbed.

Photo of Martin Moe, just before he was stabbed and died. Ok, I made that last part up.

 

[Bradley Crocker]

It's very pretty! I don't think I'd pick one up without some kind of tongs, but I am terrified of being stabbed.

Photo of Martin Moe, just before he was stabbed and died. Ok, I made that last part up.

Don't think I'm not scared! I'll be sweating like Mike Tyson in a spelling bee!