Tuxedo Urchin Injury?

[PNWfishjunkie]

Hello reefers,
I noticed that my tuxedo urchin has a white spot near its mouth. I am unsure if this is the result of an injury or something else. This tank currently has phosphates that are higher than I would like them to be, and I am doing small frequent water changes to lower them. I don't believe that any of the fish/inverts in this tank would be capable of damaging the urchin. It is still holding things onto it which I have read is a good sign. It has plenty of algae to eat, so I don't believe it is starving.

A few days ago I noticed the spot and assumed that it had caught a piece of brine shrimp while I was feeding the fish. Upon closer examination this is not the case. The borders of the 'spot' appear to be fuzzy/cloudy and extend to its spikes. Where it is touching the spines they look a bit odd, and (I don't know the proper term) the little 'balls' near the base of the spines are more prominent.

Tank info
Age: 3 years old, moved to my house 4 months ago (same substrate, live rock, etc.)
Size: 40 gallons
Stocking: 10 mollies, 1 firefish, 1 tailspot blenny, 1 sapphire damselfish, 1 yellow clown goby, various hermit crabs, and Astrea snails. Also has macro algae and leather corals.

Parameters (tested an hour ago)
Salinity: 1.025
Temp: 80.4 F
PH (Digitally tested): 8.25
PH (Liquid test): 8.0
Phosphate: 9.0 (yeah....working on it)
Calcium: 360 (I would like this a little higher but I am not super concerned)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0.5ppm
Magnesium: 1,230

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello reefers,
I noticed that my tuxedo urchin has a white spot near its mouth. I am unsure if this is the result of an injury or something else. This tank currently has phosphates that are higher than I would like them to be, and I am doing small frequent water changes to lower them. I don't believe that any of the fish/inverts in this tank would be capable of damaging the urchin. It is still holding things onto it which I have read is a good sign. It has plenty of algae to eat, so I don't believe it is starving.

A few days ago I noticed the spot and assumed that it had caught a piece of brine shrimp while I was feeding the fish. Upon closer examination this is not the case. The borders of the 'spot' appear to be fuzzy/cloudy and extend to its spikes. Where it is touching the spines they look a bit odd, and (I don't know the proper term) the little 'balls' near the base of the spines are more prominent.

Tank info
Age: 3 years old, moved to my house 4 months ago (same substrate, live rock, etc.)
Size: 40 gallons
Stocking: 10 mollies, 1 firefish, 1 tailspot blenny, 1 sapphire damselfish, 1 yellow clown goby, various hermit crabs, and Astrea snails. Also has macro algae and leather corals.

Parameters (tested an hour ago)
Salinity: 1.025
Temp: 80.4 F
PH (Digitally tested): 8.25
PH (Liquid test): 8.0
Phosphate: 9.0 (yeah....working on it)
Calcium: 360 (I would like this a little higher but I am not super concerned)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0.5ppm
Magnesium: 1,230

I'm not sure what that is - could be a bacterial issue. Has the urchin dropped any spines yet?

Is your phosphate being measured in ppm? I can't recall ever seeing a reading that high. What test kit are you using?

Jay

 

[PNWfishjunkie]

Yes it is being measured in PPM. I am using an API liquid test kit, but perhaps this could be a reason for me to finally get a Hanna checker.
No spines dropped that I have seen.

Edit: I just ordered one, it should be here Friday.

 

[MnFish1]

Yes it is being measured in PPM. I am using an API liquid test kit, but perhaps this could be a reason for me to finally get a Hanna checker.
No spines dropped that I have seen.

Edit: I just ordered one, it should be here Friday.

if you followed the directions exactly (and they are not exactly simple to endure) - The Phosphate of an API test should be about as good as any other

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello reefers,
I noticed that my tuxedo urchin has a white spot near its mouth. I am unsure if this is the result of an injury or something else. This tank currently has phosphates that are higher than I would like them to be, and I am doing small frequent water changes to lower them. I don't believe that any of the fish/inverts in this tank would be capable of damaging the urchin. It is still holding things onto it which I have read is a good sign. It has plenty of algae to eat, so I don't believe it is starving.

A few days ago I noticed the spot and assumed that it had caught a piece of brine shrimp while I was feeding the fish. Upon closer examination this is not the case. The borders of the 'spot' appear to be fuzzy/cloudy and extend to its spikes. Where it is touching the spines they look a bit odd, and (I don't know the proper term) the little 'balls' near the base of the spines are more prominent.

Tank info
Age: 3 years old, moved to my house 4 months ago (same substrate, live rock, etc.)
Size: 40 gallons
Stocking: 10 mollies, 1 firefish, 1 tailspot blenny, 1 sapphire damselfish, 1 yellow clown goby, various hermit crabs, and Astrea snails. Also has macro algae and leather corals.

Parameters (tested an hour ago)
Salinity: 1.025
Temp: 80.4 F
PH (Digitally tested): 8.25
PH (Liquid test): 8.0
Phosphate: 9.0 (yeah....working on it)
Calcium: 360 (I would like this a little higher but I am not super concerned)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0.5ppm
Magnesium: 1,230

Its losing needles due to stress and can be due to elevated nitrate and phosphate, starvation, High or low salinity, Low ph and as mentioned bacterial. When its bacterial, its hard for the urchin to recover. I encourage you to verify your readings by taking a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your ammonia and nitrates and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at

 

[PNWfishjunkie]

if you followed the directions exactly (and they are not exactly simple to endure) - The Phosphate of an API test should be about as good as any other

I tested my 'good' tank AKA my hard coral tank and its showing 0.25ppm, so I believe the test is accurate...

 

[PNWfishjunkie]

Its losing needles due to stress and can be due to elevated nitrate and phosphate, starvation, High or low salinity, Low ph and as mentioned bacterial. When its bacterial, its hard for the urchin to recover. I encourage you to verify your readings by taking a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your ammonia and nitrates and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at

Will do, thank you. I think I will also move it to my tank that has consistently ideal results just in case its phosphates.