Sea urchin help

[CoastieFlo]

I just added a Halloween urchin yesterday, was doing really good at the store. I brought him home and did a 2 hour acclimation before putting him in the tank and almost instantly he seemed to be doing bad, he fell off the rock I put him on and has been on the sand bed ever since, he's lost just a few spines but won't eat any algea or mysis I put next to it and lost about 3 suckers after I gently pulled a clip of algae away because I didn't want all the snails and fish harassing it because they were crawling all over him. Does anyone know if this is common and besides waiting is there anything I can do. I was thinking of placing him back on a rock because I figured it would be better than the sand but I don't want to risk stressing him out any more.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Leave him be , what are yr parameters? Most likely acclimating

 

[davidcalgary29]

This isn't common behaviour, and spine loss is indicative of environmental stress. I agree with leaving it alone...and do a series of water tests with high-quality checkers.

 

[CoastieFlo]

Salinity 1.026, temp 78
PH 8.4 hanna
Alk 8.4 hanna
Nitrates 1.0 ppm nyos
Phosphate .10 ppm hanna

 

[Uncle99]

Did you keep temp constant at 78 for all two hours?
When they lay down their spines, that’s bad.
Not much you can do

 

[CoastieFlo]

He was at constant 78...I float the bag and slowly added my tank water over a period of 2 hours

 

[vetteguy53081]

Allow urchin to adjust to tank and dont attempt to feed for at least 3 days. Its not a fish.
Losing needles when introduced, not uncommon UNLESS it is constantly losing them. They will easily replace the spines. Its also VERY important that the salinity during acclimation matched that of the tank as they do not do well with parameter change- At least sudden change.
At this time, it is under stress due to environmental changes, acclimation shock, lack of food and Possible high nitrate levels which cannot be above 10ppm which are some of the biggest causes for tuxedo urchins not surviving. Once they start dropping spines, they are also prone to bacterial infections, from which it is hard to recover.

 

[CoastieFlo]

Allow urchin to adjust to tank and dont attempt to feed for at least 3 days. Its not a fish.
Losing needles when introduced, not uncommon UNLESS it is constantly losing them. They will easily replave the spines. Its also VERY important that the salinity during acclimation matched that of the tank as they do not do well with parameter change- At lease sudden change.
At this time, it is under stress due to environmental changes, acclimation shock, lack of food and Possible high nitrate levels which cannot be above 10ppm which are some of the biggest causes for tuxedo urchins not surviving. Once they start dropping spines, they are also prone to bacterial infections, from which it is hard to recover.

Thanks everyone for the great feedback. I've been reefing for a year now with two tanks that I thought were thriving but lately I've just been frustrated. I had 3 new fish die in my other tank and now I'm afraid of killing this urchin. I guess I need to really change my acclimation methods before I feel more defeated. Floating a bag just doesn't seem to work anymore. Hopefully this guy recovers from my mistakes.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks everyone for the great feedback. I've been reefing for a year now with two tanks that I thought were thriving but lately I've just been frustrated. I had 3 new fish die in my other tank and now I'm afraid of killing this urchin. I guess I need to really change my acclimation methods before I feel more defeated. Floating a bag just doesn't seem to work anymore. Hopefully this guy recovers from my mistakes.

This stuff happens. A lot of trial and error in this hobby.
This is generally how I acclimate:
Float for 20-30 minutes
Transfer specimen and water into a clean bucket

Then . . . .

Add a cup of tank water to bucket every 15 mins 6-8 times (almost 2 hours)
Then check salinity in bucket and compare to tank. If no match or very close, add a cup of water every few mins until youve reached salinity and trap specimaen in same cup and pour off water and release into display. Release under LOW light before lights out.

 

[CoastieFlo]

This stuff happens. A lot of trial and error in this hobby.
This is generally how I acclimate:
Float for 20-30 minutes
Transfer specimen and water into a clean bucket

Then . . . .

Add a cup of tank water to bucket every 15 mins 6-8 times (almost 2 hours)
Then check salinity in bucket and compare to tank. If no match or very close, add a cup of water every few mins until youve reached salinity and trap specimaen in same cup and pour off water and release into display. Release under LOW light before lights out.

Thank you, definitely going to try this. Good news is the urchin is finally coming to life and has even found a nice shell hat to wear.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you, definitely going to try this. Good news is the urchin is finally coming to life and has even found a nice shell hat to wear.

I would have guessed and great to hear

 

[SlugSnorter]

Thanks everyone for the great feedback. I've been reefing for a year now with two tanks that I thought were thriving but lately I've just been frustrated. I had 3 new fish die in my other tank and now I'm afraid of killing this urchin. I guess I need to really change my acclimation methods before I feel more defeated. Floating a bag just doesn't seem to work anymore. Hopefully this guy recovers from my mistakes.

best for inverts drip IMO