Tank size urchin

[ThunderGoose]

I have an urchin that came in as a hitchhiker which might be a pin cushion urchin. She's been increasingly active lately and I'm concerned she might not be getting enough food. I offered her some Nori but she doesn't want it. I found an estimate that they can reach eight inches but the same site listed a twenty gallon tank as adequate.

Should I be worried about her food supply? What is a good sized tank for a pin cushion urchin? My tank is around 55 gallons in display (250 liters) and she's around 3-4 inches right now.

Thanks!

 

[James M]

That’s a good tank size to live it’s life out
Don’t know about feedings, mine use too take nori from my hand

 

[cristata.reef]

Should be fine. Any pics of the urchin? I can likely ID it

 

[lolgranny]

I wouldn’t be worried, I’m pretty sure you posted a pic earlier and it’s TINY. It will take a while for it to grow. I’ve had dozens from that size to a badeball and I wouldn’t have any concerns

 

[ThunderGoose]

Thanks to everyone who's chimed in. I'm glad to hear she should be OK in my tank. She does bulldoze things but I enjoy watching her anyway.

Should be fine. Any pics of the urchin? I can likely ID it

Here's a picture of her with a ponytail back in June. She's around 2.5 - 3 inches now. She came in (tiny) on live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater.

 

[ThunderGoose]

I wouldn’t be worried, I’m pretty sure you posted a pic earlier and it’s TINY. It will take a while for it to grow. I’ve had dozens from that size to a badeball and I wouldn’t have any concerns

I have two urchins in my tank now - the one in question and a tuxedo urchin. I also got in several long spine urchins that I rehomed. I know not everyone feels this way but I LOVE all the fun hitchhikers that came in with my rock.

 

[cristata.reef]

Thanks to everyone who's chimed in. I'm glad to hear she should be OK in my tank. She does bulldoze things but I enjoy watching her anyway.



Here's a picture of her with a ponytail back in June. She's around 2.5 - 3 inches now. She came in (tiny) on live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater.

Lytechinus sp. probably L. variegatus given the locality from where it was collected. These don't get bigger than 4ish inches

 

[BZOFIQ]

If she came tiny and looks over an inch in the picture she is clearly getting enough food for now. They like to graze on algae sometimes stripping it to bare rock. Great part of cleanup crew. Keep it.