Tuxedo urchin dying?

mfinley24 · Dec 30, 2019

I just bought a tuxedo urchin yesterday. When I got the urchin it had shells stuck to it. I acclimated it for an hour and a half. When I finally put the urchin into my tank it just sat there, didn't move, and then after about 20 minutes dropped all the shells it was wearing. I was concerned so I moved it to a space that wasn't so out in the open near the back wall in case it wanted to climb. It's sat there all evening, all night last night, all day... Hasn't moved. But also hasn't dropped it's spines and doesn't look different.

As soon as it dropped the shells it was wearing I was concerned because that just seemed like a bad sign.

My parameters are all fine EXCEPT my salinity was on the higher side. I just did a water change a little bit ago to try and fix that.

Does anyone have an experience with urchins on their way out? This doesn't sound like it's going to make it right?

Auto-pilot · Dec 30, 2019

Hey an actual estimate on your parameters would probably be helpful because fine isn't helpful to those of us trying help. I would have to say that urchens are extremely sensitive to salinity, You need to make sure that you are able to keep it stable in the future. Also how big is the tank how old is the tank??? That might help us give you some good steps to help you figure out what you need to do. If its not dripping spines that's a good sign. If I move my urchens they will drop anything they are carrying

WVNed · Dec 30, 2019

I put one in my tank and it didn't move for 3 days. Then it tricked me by going back to exactly the same place every morning for while. Then I noticed the trail it made at night where it had eaten on the rocks. It's still fine.

eschaton · Jan 3, 2020

Echinoderms can be really finicky regarding salinity, so it still could be in osmotic shock.

I had a blue tuxedo years ago. He was bulletproof, but finally died after around five years (which is about their max lifespan). Before he began dropping spines his blue banding got notably paler. If his coloration is still good, he's likely healthy.