how do you pick up a Purple Urchin??

[laust]

i have one arriving tomorrow, and now i'm looking at the picture and i'm unsure on how i'm going to handle it.
help!

 

[ophiura]

Is it a long spined urchin or what? Long spined urchins are a little tricky...but other urchins aren't too problematic, just don't squeeze them. The spines on most aren't particularly sharp. But long spined urchins need to be handled more carefuly as their spines are hollow, fragile, and venemous. They easily break and can get into the skin.

 

[joker_ca]

Use A Plastic Container To Gently Pick Him Up And Use It To Release Him, You Dont Want To Stress Him Out

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by joker_ca
Use A Plastic Container To Gently Pick Him Up And Use It To Release Him, You Dont Want To Stress Him Out
Yes, that's the safe way to do it

But come on, dontcha like to be a little daring sometimes?

 

[joker_ca]

Originally Posted by ophiura
Yes, that's the safe way to do it

But come on, dontcha like to be a little daring sometimes?

ITS NOT FUN WHEN YOU LONG SPINE URCHIN KICKS YOU ASS WHEN YOUR NOT LOOKING

 

[kraut59]

Amen to that. They hurt like a mo when they hit you.

 

[laust]

i was doing some reading on some other posts, and is it true that this little guy is going to grow to the size of a softball? and suck all the pretty coraline off my rocks?
if so, i'm just not even going to cut him out of the bag, going to take him straight to the fish store.

 

[ophiura]

Well, they do grow relatively large (depending again on what species you have) and they are grazers, including on coralline. In many tanks this may SPEED the growth of coralline. In smaller systems that they are too large for, I would say it could remove a lot.

 

[laust]

thank you o'goddess of invert and salt !!

i'm a bit scared of him, i think i'm just not going to risk it and take him back to the store. luckily, there is a black band around his bag, so i have not seen him yet, and have not had the chance to attach myself.
thanks for all the advice.