How big do these guys get? I’ve seen 3” but is it possible for them to get larger? Would you put one in a 20 gallon high tank or do you think it would look totally out of scale? I know they’re sold as algae eaters but I just think they’re cool and would be happy to feed it macros from my refugium and nori. My rocks aren’t glued together though. How heavy are the things that yours picks up? Will they really try and go through tunnels that are too small and knock rocks over? Right now I’m about 50/50 on whether I could actually have one safely in my tank (safe for it and safe for my other animals).
Tuxedo urchin questions
- Thread starter Fishbird
- Start date
- Tagged users None
They get big but it takes time. If you really like one - you can own it for a few years, if it gets too big sell/trade it for a smaller one. As most urchins, they will go through everything and most small things will stick to them needles. I had mine carry a small colony of zoa for a few weeks.
Mr Fishface
Valuable Member
If you start with a small one they do take years to grow out big. Mine picked up small pieces of rubble rock with corals on them, urchin was 2" and rubble was maybe 1/2" big. Never picked up my bigger frags of coral but would scooch them around the tank while moving. I would put one in a 20 high, no big deal. The bigger issue is how stable is the rock work? If you touch it does it sway easily or rock back and forth? My rock isn't glued together but it's heavy enough I have to really put force on it to move it anywhere and my urchin had no problems. If the rock is too unstable just move it a little until it becomes more stable!
Auquanut
5000 Club Member
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
RGB
Reef Squad Emeritus
Hospitality Award
Midwest Reefer
My Tank Thread
Tuxedo's are actually one of the smaller urchins. They typically don't get over 3". I had one in my 29 biocube for a couple of years. He's in my 125 now. Probably over 3 years old and less than 3". He doesn't move things around as much as other urchins, but will definitely pick up anything that's not glued down. I would think it would be fine in a 20 gallon tank as long as you have a healthy algae/coraline population. They're great grazers. I've never tried long term target feeding, so not sure how successful that would be.
Phycodurus
Well-Known Member
spine retention is key and also not dropping.
i have one urchin (a halloween urchin) that stayed put for a day or two after acclimation and i was ready to consign the poor fellow for dead, but he perked up thankfully.
look for the tube feet moving back and forth. good luck!
i have one urchin (a halloween urchin) that stayed put for a day or two after acclimation and i was ready to consign the poor fellow for dead, but he perked up thankfully.
look for the tube feet moving back and forth. good luck!
