help please

trickle25

Member
ok guys about a month ago i found and black colored urchin in my tank ...i guess it came with the live rock...anyways ive had my lights off for about an hour now and i noticed it on one of my corals...correct me if im wrong but dont they eat corals ? should i just leave it alone or move it into the sump.....?
 

the claw

Active Member
I don't think they will eat your coral, just your coralline algae. I think the problem with them with corals is their sharp spines puncturing some coral, causing damage. Some also like to bulldoze your rocks when they get bigger. As you can imagine, this can cause problems.
 

krishj39

Active Member
Some urchin will eat corals. However, your urchin being on top of a coral doesn't mean it was eating that coral. Urchins often end up on top of corals for the same reason that they often knock off rocks--they couldn't care less where they travel. They "walk" over everything, sometimes knocking over a rock, sometimes stepping on a coral. Now, if you can find evidence of the coral being eaten, then move that bugger to the sump, otherwise I wouldn't worry about it. I have one (a pincushion) that has been a model citizen, except I THINK he took a taste out of my cabbage leather once, but that is just a hunch, cause I saw him nearby when I noticed the damage. And, yes, urchin will also eat coralline and detrius, and some can be spot fed with frozen food and such.
 
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