Thoughts on my new Purple and White Urchin

[Closet Reefer]

So, I'm looking at my tank and I see my new Urchin chillin on the glass. I think to myself, "Cool, I can see him so close." Well, as I start examining my urchin I notice there is a snail under him. Nothing wrong with that. Some of my snails need a little cleaning. Except, the snail is facing the wrong way and I'm looking at the top of the snail. Strange.... The opening of the snail is right where the urchin's mouth is.

I'm not sure if I should get rid of the urchin... He's been munching (?) on the same snail for HOURS now. So maybe he's pretty enough that every once and awhile I get him a few more snails....

 

[smartfish]

Snail and clean up crews in my opinion are expendable they generally eat each other. The only thing is if this is the main diet then it can become some what costly. I would see how often it occurs. This is the first time I have heard of an urchin eating a snail but anything is possible. I think it is an interesting urchin and unique enough urchin to give it a little more time.

 

[Jennifer]

Wow that is a pretty urchin Jenn, I think I would sacrifice the occasional snail for it.

Unless its diet becomes 1 snail a week or more.

 

[Doherty]

.........Maybe the snail is eating the urchin..........

 

[Miller]

That's a pretty slick looking Urchin you have there.


One snail isn't bad, but if the entire population of snails in the 93 are devastated by this bugger I'm going to be a wee be sad.

 

[Ronnie]

Very nice Pincushion Urchin. Its part of your clean up crew it's cleaning up. That could of been a dead or lunch snail remember sea urchin graze on algae and hate poor water quality high Nitrate ect ect....The spines well start to fall off. There good to have to see if your water is in check. LMK if it eats to many snails I'll take it off your hand or the snails.

 

[Closet Reefer]

Snail and clean up crews in my opinion are expendable they generally eat each other. The only thing is if this is the main diet then it can become some what costly. I would see how often it occurs. This is the first time I have heard of an urchin eating a snail but anything is possible. I think it is an interesting urchin and unique enough urchin to give it a little more time.

I think I'm going to have to agree with you.

Wow that is a pretty urchin Jenn, I think I would sacrifice the occasional snail for it.

Unless its diet becomes 1 snail a week or more.

I'd even go as far to say that he can have a snail a week.

.........Maybe the snail is eating the urchin..........

That's just mean....

That's a pretty slick looking Urchin you have there.

One snail isn't bad, but if the entire population of snails in the 93 are devastated by this bugger I'm going to be a wee be sad.

I think your Mystery Wrasse does more damage to our clean up crew than the urchin has done so far.

Very nice Pincushion Urchin. Its part of your clean up crew it's cleaning up. That could of been a dead or lunch snail remember sea urchin graze on algae and hate poor water quality high Nitrate ect ect....The spines well start to fall off. There good to have to see if your water is in check. LMK if it eats to many snails I'll take it off your hand or the snails.

Yeah.... We have two blue tuxido urchins and they have been doing pretty well. But we had them in the 20H for quite some time, so when we moved to the 93 I figured it could handle another one. I think we are going to hang on to this bad boy for a little longer.