ID help - I have a photo this time`

[bededog]

I got a good look at him this evening. Turns out there are two of them. I guess they are urchins of some kind. If anyone is familiar with them please let me know if I should get them out of my tank or if they are reef safe.
thanks
Oh, what is the coral in the first photo too?
thanks again

 

[bededog]

.

 

[ryebread]

It's a common spiny urchin. They aren't considered reef safe but, many people keep them in thier tanks. They are great algae eaters but, they are notorious for knocking things over.......eating coral.......eating coraline algae.......getting things stuck to them, etc.. Get it out of there if you want to be safe.
The coral looks like a type of Sinularia........leather coral.

 

[cprdnick]

Here's a question going with your response Rye, I've never seen it done, but how do you remove an urchin from your tank without getting poked?

 

[ryebread]

They aren't nearly as sharp as they seem. A rubber/latex glove would be more than enough protection from thier spines.
Ever think about how LFS get Urchins shipped to them?

 

[cprdnick]

Hmmm.........I just figured they came in an iron box, bolted shut then welded for extra security. Then they are place in an armored car and driven to the LFS by a guy wearing full body armor. LOL
J/K
That is a good point, never really thought about it. I actually just thought that they were shipped in a styrofoam box like all the othere inverts that come to my LFS.