Rock Borer Urchins?

[Stevescort]

I'm not sure if that's what they are.. if so, they don't really eat much algae right? Do they actually destroy rock?

So far, while i haven't noticed them chewing on algae, they have been consuming lettuce and spinach

 

[seffieuk]

Echinometra oblonga otherwise known as Rock boring urchins as rock is your fitration (I am assuming!! Although hope to know soon if you start your journel ) then dont think you really want three in your tank that are slowly eating away at your rock (filter).

Seffie x

 

[Stevescort]

Are you sure that's them? I had one about twice the size of the 3 small ones in that tank for about a month (took it out to give to my father as he wants to try farming), and saw no signs of rock being chewed on. A lot of lettuce eaten though. Maybe they just look a lot like rock borers.. hmmm

 

[seffieuk]

I'm assuming they would take quite a while to bore a hole as they only have small raspers dont they, not like they have massive grinding teeth I also guess (but do not know) that they are rasping the rock to get algae etc off the rock.

Seffie x

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Do there spines break off as when I was putting my LR into my aquarium I found a couple of these in the bags and in the rocks.

 

[seffieuk]

Its not a good sign if they start to lose their spines - watch and wait but if thye stop moving then they have probably had it! Take them out asap as they will really foul up the tank and then add some carbon. If you have to take a dead one out, hold your nose

Seffie x

 

[Stevescort]

Do there spines break off as when I was putting my LR into my aquarium I found a couple of these in the bags and in the rocks.

Do you mean you just found the spines? Or the whole urchins?

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

I just found spines but they were attached to my LR. I probably would have noticed by now if there was an urchin in my tank shouldn't I? Are they quite big?

 

[seffieuk]

Woops, sorry Fish, I didnt notice it wasn't Steve posting

You would have seen the urchin by now

Seffie x

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Ah okay so I can cancel out having an rock boring urchin in my tank

 

[Stevescort]

I wouldn't be entirely sure. I don't see mine for days at a time sometimes when they hide behind my live rock, and they are not all big. My three are about 1.5 inches across (spine to spine), and my big ones are about 4 inches across.

Chanced are that there was one in with the live rock before you got it though.

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Oh I see. I'll keep an eye out though

 

[Stevescort]

Well, just an update. All three urchins have been munching down on quite a bit of Nori seaweed bought from local supermarket Asian food section. Still no evidence of them boring on the rocks either