Sickly Urchin

[dixaisy930]

After adding the new coral, I was prepared that I might have to get rid of my pin cushion urchin that I've had for approximately a year. I was planning on taking him to the lfs I frequent, but my mother begged me to keep him, and offered to pay to set up another tank for him. I figured a ten or twenty gallon would be big enough for him, so we got the supplies yesterday (just a ten gallon for now, 20 long if he makes it). I got some very nice, cured live rock and some rubble to help seed the tank. I also put some substrate from my tank to help with the bacteria. I made sure ph, temp, salinity, everything was the same between the two tanks, and I also made sure not to expose it to air at all. I still did drip acclimation for about ten minutes, just to be safe.

I had him in a one gallon holding container until the new tank was ready for him. I figure an hour or two in there wouldn't hurt him, but I guess I was wrong. Some of his spines are laying down (I would say approximately half), and he's not moving around as much as he usually does. I do believe he ate a little of the dried seaweed I put in there for him, but not much. His new tank water is amm 0, nitrate 0 nitrite 0 salinity 1.024 and temp 72.

I know when they start loosing their spines, it's a pretty definate demise. If his spines are laying down, is that a precurser to loosing spines? It just breaks my heart. When I got it, he was the size of a golf ball, and now he's almost as big as my fist.

 

[sianeds]

I think he just sounds a bit depressed. My shortspine urchin stripped my tank clean within 2 months and his spines started to flatten. I figured he must be getting pretty hungry so I transferred him to my 30gal which had plenty for him to eat. Within 4 or 5 days he was back to his old self again and pottering around the tank demolishing my coralline. This evening I took him out of the 30gal and put him back into my 55gal. Within minutes of getting onto the tank he was whizzing around. He's currently munching on some dried purple seaweed and is happier than ever.

My point is....Get your urchin into his new home, give him a week or so to settle and make sure he has lots of dried seaweed and I pretty much guarantee he'll be fine. Unless he's actually started losing spines I really wouldn't worry. He's probably just sulking

 

[dixaisy930]

I sure hope so. I just love the guy. And my mom....jeez, she almost cried when I told her I was going to get rid of him. And she doesn't even live with him/us .

He was one of my first inverts, and I've always been so proud of how well he's done.

Would a ten gallon work permantently for him, or should the 20 gallon be his permantent residency? Please say 20 gallon.

 

[sianeds]

TBH all urchins need 50gal+ But I think this is more to do with the amount to eat than anything else. If you make sure he's eating plenty then I don't see in theory why he shouldn't stay in a smaller tank.

Oh and just so you know...urchins can lose a few spines and still be OK. It's when they lose more than just a few they can't recover as the spines don't grow back

 

[dixaisy930]

Yeah, I've read that about 50gal+ myself. And if mine didn't eat dried seaweed so well, I wouldn't even consider keeping him in a 10 or 20. But when he's not sulking, he can sure inhale the stuff. The shrimp and hermit crab would have to act pretty quickly to get any.

 

[dixaisy930]

He has taken a turn for the worst. He has lost about half (probably a little more) of his spines.

I checked my water again, sure that something was off - amm 0 nitrite - 0 nitrate 0-5 (not really clear) phos - 0. Could the nitrate be causing it?

Anyway, I put him back in my 29 gallon tank, since something is obviously wrong with the 10 gallon. I'm guessing my test kit is faulty. I figured he would be dead in the morning, but he was up on the glass, moving around like nothing was wrong (well, except for being practically "naked").

How long does it take for urchins to die after they start loosing their spines? I really thought they go pretty quickly after spines start falling, but maybe that's not the case. Is it more like a week or so?

 

[dixaisy930]

Urchy is still doing ok. He is moving around the tank. I'm not really sure if he is eating at all though. I suppose he's not out of the woods yet, but I'm surprised he's still around.

 

[SkiFletch]

Urchy is still doing ok. He is moving around the tank. I'm not really sure if he is eating at all though. I suppose he's not out of the woods yet, but I'm surprised he's still around.

Keepin my fingers crossed for him

 

[dixaisy930]

Thanks....

Last night he was really chowing down on my macro. Hopefully a good sign....

 

[sianeds]

Sounds good Hopefully he'll come through.

BTW if anyone is around N wales / Cheshire I have an urchin that needs a new home

 

[dixaisy930]

Urchy is doing good! He is covered in shells now, and is moving around the tank more. Time to start planning the new tank for him.

Poor guy....half naked....

 

[Navarre]

its important to know what type of urchin it is and what its dietary needs are. my short spined urchin eats nothing but coraline. if it was placed in a tan with none it would starve very fast.

Also.. it might have had air trapped in it during the move to a new tank.

nitrates dont usually become a problem with them, mine is ok and i have nitrates far higher in the nano.

 

[dixaisy930]

Well, it was sold to me as a "pin cushion" urchin, but I could find the actual name of it.

It snacks of the coraline some, but it eats the dried seaweed and my caulpera for the most part.

I think I was careful not to expose him to the air. I used a plastic container to put him in (obviously put it it the tank, and then put him in it).

 

[Donya]

Also.. it might have had air trapped in it during the move to a new tank.

Hey Nav, could you elaborate a bit or point me to a book or something for that subject? A long while back I made a post asking about urchins and air exposure, although there was never a conclusion. I couldn't find sources detailing the topic for any echinoderms other than starfish, and it's not mentioned in the books I have. I have heard/read over and over again about starfish and air exposure, but couldn't find the same discussions for urchins.

 

[Navarre]

its not a conclusive theory and its usually used for starfish i agree.

My suggetion was merely as a passing though just in case it had been caught in it and it could eject it.
As with all inverts, acclimatisation is the key and if this wasnt done correctly then its possible it might develope an illness later on.

Consideringthat many urchins can live in teh surge zone and get exposed to air its highly likely of course but i just wanted to open other doors of discussion