Long Spined Sea Urchin

[ILuvTropicalFish]

I have a 125 gallon aquarium with many semi-agressive fish, live rock and a few inverts. My long spined urchin lost most of his spines, possibly due to aggression but I am not sure. He was injured by the other fish after he lost his spines. I isolated him in a small netted fry container (6x5x4 inches). I think he is recovering there. As he gets better he will need more room to roam, but the other fish in my tank could hurt him before he grows his spines back. I have a 29 gallon set up that has cycled, but it has not been running long. Will it stress him too much to move him to a new environment? I also considered getting an intank refugium, the largest I could find so I don't have to change his environment while he is recovering. Anyone out there know these critters well enough to advise me?

 

[ILuvTropicalFish]

He has started moving around and his spines are starting to grow back. My nitrates and phospates were too high. I added a phosphate removing media to the sump a week ago and added a protein skimmer that I just started up yesterday. Phonspate are coming down. I still cannot quite decide if I should move him to the other tank. Has anyone aided a long spine urchin in recovering after spine loss?

 

[ILuvTropicalFish]

He did not make it. I love this hobby so much, but I hate it when I lose my critters. RIP.

 

[5teady_2012]

Sorry to hear that

 

[kj23502]

I'm sorry to hear that too. I don't know anything about urchins so I couldn't give you any advice.

 

[ILuvTropicalFish]

Just in case anyone else finds this post and is having the same problem, when urchns lose their spines they are sick. The problem is likely to be water conditions. I was not able to find anyone who had saved one, but had I known then what I know now, I would have started water changes immediately. I did know to supplement his feeding so I do not think he starved to death. I still would love to hear from someone who has saved one if there is anyone out there because I still have another urchin, and I will get another long spined urchin when I get my nitrates under control! There is always something to learn in this hobby.