HELP!!! Sea Urchin Injured!
- Thread starter sea horse
- Start date
sea horse
Member
Ok, I will try to get my mom to take me to the fish store so they can test the water. He shed some of his spines about a week ago and that red spot wasn't there. (It just looked like he was missing spines) I'll try to raise the saltyness too. Things that could have done this: blueleg hermit crabs, emrald crab(I'v seen him pick at pin coushin when he got too close), Strawberry Crab, and Sally Lightfooot. Also he nocked over some rocks and I think one may have fallen on him.
emperor11
Active Member
Originally Posted by sea horse
Ok, I will try to get my mom to take me to the fish store so they can test the water. He shed some of his spines about a week ago and that red spot wasn't there. (It just looked like he was missing spines) I'll try to raise the saltyness too. Things that could have done this: blueleg hermit crabs, emrald crab(I'v seen him pick at pin coushin when he got too close), Strawberry Crab, and Sally Lightfooot. Also he nocked over some rocks and I think one may have fallen on him.
You really ought to invest in a good test kit of your own. You never know when an emergency may arise and you NEED to test your water right then. Plus, the test kits that they use at the LFS's generally are the crappy Aquarium Pharmecuticals (sp?). When you raise your salinity, do it slowly. Keep an eye on your aquarium, to make sure nothing is picking at him. The best thing I can tell you to do is leave him in there, and improve water quality.
Ok, I will try to get my mom to take me to the fish store so they can test the water. He shed some of his spines about a week ago and that red spot wasn't there. (It just looked like he was missing spines) I'll try to raise the saltyness too. Things that could have done this: blueleg hermit crabs, emrald crab(I'v seen him pick at pin coushin when he got too close), Strawberry Crab, and Sally Lightfooot. Also he nocked over some rocks and I think one may have fallen on him.
You really ought to invest in a good test kit of your own. You never know when an emergency may arise and you NEED to test your water right then. Plus, the test kits that they use at the LFS's generally are the crappy Aquarium Pharmecuticals (sp?). When you raise your salinity, do it slowly. Keep an eye on your aquarium, to make sure nothing is picking at him. The best thing I can tell you to do is leave him in there, and improve water quality.
debbie
Active Member
Hi, I can tell you from my own experience with a pin cushion. They will not live long in your tank. I to have a 25 gal, I had my urchin for 7 months. My tank was over a year old when I got this urchin. Your tank must be at least 6 months old with lots of live rock as they eat the algae on the rock. Urchins are not easy to feed, I feed algae sheets, algae pellets etc and could only keep mine alive for the 7 months.
These beautiful creatures belong in the ocean or in a very large aquarium with lots of rock so they can graze naturally. I don't know if we really know what they eat in the ocean for sure but algae is surley one of those on their list.
With spines falling out, and possible attacks from other things in your tank you might end up loosing this urchin. Do yourself a big favor and save the headache by not getting another one, stars are something else I did not have luck with as 25 gal is just not big enough. I also just lost my Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish. So here are three things I have kept in my 25 gal that just will not live in it.
I want to pass this onto you so you don't make the mistakes that I have. In my tank right now I have:
1 Coral Beauty Angelfish
1 White Striped Maroon Clownfish
1 Yellowtail Blue Damsel
1 Electric blue Hermit Crab
1 Large Turbo snail
1 Algae Eating Cowrie
I don't plan on adding anything else to this tank. I am maxed out but have sure learned alot so far.
I would be glad to help you if I can as we both have the same size tank. I am no expert but have been in the hobby for just about 3 years now.
These beautiful creatures belong in the ocean or in a very large aquarium with lots of rock so they can graze naturally. I don't know if we really know what they eat in the ocean for sure but algae is surley one of those on their list.
With spines falling out, and possible attacks from other things in your tank you might end up loosing this urchin. Do yourself a big favor and save the headache by not getting another one, stars are something else I did not have luck with as 25 gal is just not big enough. I also just lost my Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish. So here are three things I have kept in my 25 gal that just will not live in it.
I want to pass this onto you so you don't make the mistakes that I have. In my tank right now I have:
1 Coral Beauty Angelfish
1 White Striped Maroon Clownfish
1 Yellowtail Blue Damsel
1 Electric blue Hermit Crab
1 Large Turbo snail
1 Algae Eating Cowrie
I don't plan on adding anything else to this tank. I am maxed out but have sure learned alot so far.
I would be glad to help you if I can as we both have the same size tank. I am no expert but have been in the hobby for just about 3 years now.
bojik
Member
Originally Posted by sea horse
This tank is at least one and a half years old. (Bought it pre-established) I don't plan on getting another if he dies. I am going to try to buy some micro algey to feed him. I don't want him to die.
They love hair algae too. Is it a short spined purple aka tuxedo urchin aka decorator urchin? If so mine loves that. Partly the reason for its purchase too.
I have heard of people putting in some of the same greens used for tangs for them.
Dunno how much weight to give that one though.
This tank is at least one and a half years old. (Bought it pre-established) I don't plan on getting another if he dies. I am going to try to buy some micro algey to feed him. I don't want him to die.
They love hair algae too. Is it a short spined purple aka tuxedo urchin aka decorator urchin? If so mine loves that. Partly the reason for its purchase too.
rykna
Active Member
Timmy will be okay
Sadly enough it only took me minutes to recall what probably happened. Urchins are very touchy to ph changes. A day ago I added a concentrated cup full of the kalwassere ph balancer stuff. I poured it in the back left corner....lots of high flow there. Problem is I neglected the fact that area is Timmy's Favorite feeding ground.
The poor little guy got doused with the concetrated chalk Ph balance stuff. No wonder his buddy prissy showed no similar signs. Timmy and prissy are usually on the opposite sides of the tank, by the time the stuff reached the other side of the tank it had be dispersed into the tank. My poor poor little urchin.
He should be okay, but it will take a while for his spines to grow back.....