WHO has (or had) a Long Spine Urchin

Quote:

Originally Posted by meowzer 

OK.....I need opinions on a longspine urchin

 

tell me all about the ones you have had.....coral friendly?    Did it knock stuff over?

Mine never bothered a thing, it was a really cool critter. I had a ton of coraline alage, I couldn't even see thru the side glass anymore and I got it to trim it down a bit.

It cleaned the side glass to almost clear and cleaned up the back glass...there was no algae to be had. Sadly after the year, it began to loose spikes, a sign of starvation. I had to find him a new home. He looked like a black pincushion urchin by the time I got him out of the tank.

One lesson learned....acclimate it in a glass container. I used the styrofoam container and it dug in so tight I needed to use a knife to get it out of there and let the segment float until the thing released it...I had broken spikes everywhere. It recovered well and I had it a little over a year before it had to be removed because of starvation.

It can aim it's spikes, and it can get in tiny spaces, I don't know how. But when it traveled, the spikes looked like they moved in and out like a star burst...really awesome....LOL....I also learned that little red spot is not an eye, but it's rectum.

i just put two of them in my tank.they are pretty cool not exciting but look neat .jet black with a bright red dot .they seem to move around alot even during the day and have been eating up my gha.kinda pricey though i paid $25 each so i hope they hang around a while.

flower got me paranoid on handling them.so i used a huge spoon to move them

Quote:

Originally Posted by deejeff442 

i just put two of them in my tank.they are pretty cool not exciting but look neat .jet black with a bright red dot .they seem to move around alot even during the day and have been eating up my gha.kinda pricey though i paid $25 each so i hope they hang around a while.

flower got me paranoid on handling them.so i used a huge spoon to move them

 

LOL...Smart move. Have you seen it aiming it's spikes at you yet?
 

no they seem to mind their own business.but i am going to do a wc today sometime.firt i have to change out some ceilinf fans to the ones that were here when we moved in.i dont think i will be in this house too much longer the owner and his snakey realtor are really getting on my verves to by this crappy house.he wants 170,000 and wont budge on price and it only appraises for 155,000 .good luck plus i will have the foundation set up in the next couple weeks for my house if it ever stops raining enough to set it up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meowzer 

Thanks......I like to hear personal experiences....LOL

 I liked it better than any urchin I ever had....I just wish it could have lived on the algae I had, I thought I had enough to keep it supplied...great critter. IMO

I have one in my 40 breeder, definately a great algae eater, just keep in mind they are poisonous. 

You just have to be aware of where they are.  Next will be a lion fish, J/K

LOL...I can't wait for your reaction, they are so cool to watch move thru the tank.

Keep in mind what I told you about acclimation....they dig in like a solid inch so be sure to use a glass or hard plastic container, not the styrofoam they are shipped in...oh and my bag was puntured but the critter was damp still when he arrived...so he might need SW right away making a slow acclination difficult. You might try Seahorse sources method of temp acclimate and dump him in...they sware it's the best way. Ask some experts here on what they say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meowzer 

LOL...I guess I'll have to use my tongs to move it.....or have Danny do it   BAHAHAHAHA

LOL...Deejeff442 used a big spoon.
 

whatever this thing is i found in the kitchen

oh yea.i took a big plastic bowl i used for work last week .she hasnt seen it missing yet.