Red Bell's Urchin (Salmacis belli)

[sundog101]

I couldn't find any information on this guy so I thought share my experience. I bought mine from Divers Den a couple months ago, and so far he seems to be doing pretty well. They are labeled reef safe with caution and according to DD are "opportunistic feeders and if there is not enough macroalgae they may prey on some sessile corals such as Zoanthus or Palythoa."

So far, he's been mostly well behaved. He has "sampled" of few soft corals, but has not done any major damage. Sps and lps have been totally ignored. I think unless you have high end zoas and just really like soft corals, he's fine for a reef tank. Like I said he does nibble a little bit, but not enough to do any real harm so far.

This is how he looks most of the time, but if you poke him, he puffs up his spines.

Also, I haven't been stung...yet, so I can't tell you how bad the sting is.

 

[Tahoe61]

What a beauty.

 

[BigHildy53]

When you first received the urchin, how long did it take for him/her to open up. I received mine two days ago and it is still curled up.

 

[sundog101]

Do you mean the spines?
It seems most of the time they are curled up. He normally puffs out his spines if there is food in the water or for defense (if you pick him up or poke him). Also, mine goes crazy when I feed him nori. By crazy I mean flaring his spines.

 

[Flashy Fins]

I have a similar, or possibly the same, urchin. Mine was sold as "long spine urchin" , and I narrowed it down the best I could to salmacis bicolor.

I'm watching carefully in QT to see if he goes for any zoas. So far, he just seems to be after algae on/around the plugs. Please excuse the dirty tank; it's my coral/invert QT, which I don't keep clean or tidy.

The blue cap came off a jug of water I used for top-off, and I forgot to fish it out. Now it's his hat.

 

[sundog101]

Wow those colors are really bright! They look pretty similar except for the longer spines. I don't know if its a different type or if mine is not in as good of shape.