Purple Sea Urchin... dead or alive

[edc381]

Just bought purple sea urchin last night. Went through acclamation process as instructed by the store (20-30 min in bag for water temperature then drip for next 60 - 90min). While it was in the container for drip acclamation, it tried to creep its way out. So we kept syphoning little water to make it stay under. When I transferred to tank, was instructed to do by hand without adding water from acclamation process, which we did. It sank to bottom of tank and never moved. This afternoon, I tried moving it to a rock with some algae on it to see if it was alive or what. After several hours of not moving, a few of my damsels started picking at it. It appears as though some, not all, of the spines are moving as well as the small white "hairs" in between. I've placed it in the sand with a protective cover for now. How will I know if it's dead? The ricordea I bought at same time has opened and appears to be doing well, so far.

 

[meowzer]

Sometimes mine stays in the same spot for a long time too....if you see spines moving it should still be alive...and you say you also see hairs moving?? Is that from underneath? I doubt it would be moving if it was dead.....I wouldn't move it around...just let it get use to it's new home...

 

[flower]

I'm with Meowzer...
Sea critters are good at playing dead, if you keep touching it, moving it and pestering it, the critter will just sit there. Leave it alone, and let it get used to things...It's had a hard day.

 

[doggie]

I have the same type of urchin. I doesn't move at all during the day put it puts on a good show at night.