What kind of urchin?

maevepotter · Mar 11, 2019

Hi can anyone ID this urchin? Also, I thought (and am still fairly certain) urchins are herbivorous, but the LFS employee said they thought that they eat each other and now keep only one per tank, but I think they probably just died from lack of food. They said I wouldn't be able to have this one and mine with the purple spines together. See my tank near the small clown upper left.

Thanks!

cracker · Mar 11, 2019

I can't say what type the urchin but it is cool. Also a nice looking tank!
I see no algae so be ready to feed it nori. They are big eaters!

Johnny M · Mar 11, 2019

I have a Tuxedo in my 65g. Added him due to turf algae and was happy to see him devour it. Never seen urchins fight in tanks. Usually they are the "canaries" of water quality. When they start losing their camouflage ( pieces of shells etc... they put on their backs for protection) or start losing their spines , it's time to check ur water parameters, especially Nitrates.

maevepotter · Mar 11, 2019

Yes I feed my existing urchin nori. He doesn't seem to want to eat the hair algae. I've had to pull a lot of it out myself.

Nick tang · Mar 12, 2019

Look like a Pincushion Urchin

GK3 · Mar 12, 2019

maevepotter said:
Hi can anyone ID this urchin? Also, I thought (and am still fairly certain) urchins are herbivorous, but the LFS employee said they thought that they eat each other and now keep only one per tank, but I think they probably just died from lack of food. They said I wouldn't be able to have this one and mine with the purple spines together. See my tank near the small clown upper left.

Thanks!

Looks like what my LfS calls a fire urchin. It will sting your hand.