Urchin Question

[shafty]

I heard that long spine urchins eat coralline algea. Is this true? I've noticed that there does seem to be less since I added one to my tank.

thanks.

 

[hubbard_shark]

yes they do. when i was gonna buy one to control some hair algae, i was told id run a risk of having them eat corraline alage too. hope this helps

 

[shafty]

Is it a big problem if they eat coralline algae?

 

[steelhealr]

Black longspine urchins live predominantly on coralline algae. I have one. They can and WILL strip off the coralline. Disadvantages include:
-loss of color in the aquarium
-removal of competition so that unwanted algae can take hold.

Please see the link I posted in the Marine pinned section on coralline algae.

Black longspines also knock over your aquascaping and can grow to the size of a baseball. You can try and keep them off the coralline by putting in nori with a clip, but, they'll eat it up quickly. Personally, I wouldn't get one again.

SH

 

[Pheonix]

i have a small one in a big tank, the algea grows quicker than the little guy can eat it! i think they are stunning looking creatures and although they can knock over live rock and stuff i think this paticular urchine is one of the least offenders for it! i also have a pencil urchin and he is waaaayyyyyyyyy more distructive

 

[shafty]

I've had mine for about 2 months, I took him back and got a baby one last week as he got too big. I think after this one gets bigger I will take him back and that will be the end of urchins for my tank. I really like having him in there though...really neat! Thanks for the link.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, at the risk of correcting the master, black longspines can get way bigger than a baseball if you count the spines. I've seen ones bigger than my head

 

[Ter]

I have one.... and I love him... and yes he eats just about any algae... i find mine mostly on the glass...
oh and he will dash 2 any algae clip i put in for my tangs... not bad for something im not even sure has eyes lol
Ter

 

[sianeds]

SpikeyBob my urchin completely stripped the coralline from our reef tank and has now been rehomed in one of our smaller reef tanks...when he starts to eat too much in that one we'll put him in another one.

We plan to move him around our tanks controlling the algae in all of them....the only concern we have is the stress on the urchin getting moved every few months.

He also ate the nori I put out for my Tangs

We love SpikeyBob though