star/urchin

[debbie]

I have a question for you all. Today while traveling our local stores here I went into one where I often buy some fish stuff. I saw the cuttest Pin Cushion Urchin at a very reasonable price. Of course the guy said that this is what I need to keep my nano nice and clean.... I told him that I have a Chocolate Chip Starfish, I think he will eat him. He said absolutley not....... I don't always believe this guy as he tends to change his story alot. So I am here and no I did not buy the Urchin, I have learned my lesson by gosh.
Can you keep an Urchin with a Chocolate Chip star?
I was also told that Urchins don't live for very long, is this true?
Would love to hear your responses to this question..... :happy:

 

[vanos]

I have 2 urchins in my 55G with a chocolate chip star and everything is fine. I've had the pinushion urchin for 6 months and the longspine urchin for 4 months. I believe urchins eat algae only.

 

[debbie]

Thanks for your reply. Now that I have been reading some of the posts about stars and urchins it sounds like they will get along, am I right?
I just don't want to get this nice urchin and find my star eating away at it?

 

[debbie]

Sorry, it is not a pincushion it is a "Short Spined Sea Urchin". My mistake....
Would I be pushing it to add one of these to my 10 gal nano with my chocolate chip star fish and 2 ocellaris clowns?

 

[f1shman]

It might outgrow the tank. Does anyone know if an urchin would be good in my 75 gallon FOWLR, everything my triggers doesn't eat, my lionfish or queen angel eats. (i know these fish are all going to end up outgrowing my tank, well the lionfish and queen angel anyways, and I'm prepared for that, so don't need to be lectured on that

) Since the urchins are sharp and some are poisonous I think that would be the only cleaner that would possibly work, what do you think?

 

[vanos]

Go for it but the urchins are the natural diet of triggers but if your trigger is fed then you shouldn't have a problem. My trigger doesn't touch my urchins.

 

[ricks280]

sooner or later your trigger will blow your urchin over and game over. :yes: (jmo)rick.

 

[f1shman]

lol naughty undulated and picaso triggers, I'm thinking about returning the undulated because I heard they outgrow basically every tank in aggresiveness. He keeps on taking chunks out of my yellow tang and I know its him, although the yellow tang is pretty dumb, because she keeps going into his "cave area".. lol

 

[f1shman]

How can the triggers eat a Black Longspine Urchin since they're so sharp and if you touch there spines it supposvly is equivilent to a bee sting. Is the underneath them like a soft area that the if the trigger flipped him over (as one of you said) he could chow down?

 

[ophiura]

Triggers have eyes further back on their faces than many other fish. They are almost designed to eat urchins. And if they do turn them over there aren't as many spines. Triggers and urchins, IMO, do not mix all that well. Angels may also pick at the tube feet of the urchin or otherwise just take an interest in it.
IMO, an urchin is not really suitable for a 10g tank. There isn't a lot of room to graze, and some may be too large. They may not live long due to starvation in some cases. Some will take to spot feeding but it may be hit or miss. A chocolate chip is less likely to eat an urchin but I have see some stars eat (yes even long spine) urchins so I never rule it out, however unlikely. So I don't give it a green light primarily due to tank size...but not a definite no either. I just don't think it will be the best long term.

 

[debbie]

Well after lots of reading last night and this morning, I think I am read out about urchins but certainly don't know all one needs to about them. I took the plunge and bought the "Short Spined Urchin" (Mespilia globulus). I am really considering turning my 25 into a FOWLR soon. For now there is tons of algae that I really need cleaned up in my 10 and it is a small urchin so will have lots to feed on for the time being. Upon reading they can be supplemented with algae sheets too. So at the moment I am doing the acclimatization thing, will keep you all posted on how I do.
F1shMan, hope your Yellow Tang does not get bet up to bad from your Trigger naughty triggers anyways, I love Yellow Tangs so make sure he does not get killed.
Good Luck

 

[ophiura]

Of the urchins, it is probably the best bet. It stays pretty small, but do pay close attention to salinity and pH, etc. I would say it is a bit more sensitive than the chocolate chip star. It is also potentially easier to eat than other types of urchins due to the very short spines and total lack of spines in broad areas. So watch for interest from the star.

 

[debbie]

I will keep a close eye on it. I have been spot feeding my star several times a week. What a piggy, it begs for food all the time.
The urchin is motoring all over the rock, I have more than enough algae at the moment for it. I hope it discovers the glass soon, that needs to be scraped but I would like it to feed on it instead. Sand bed has some, but it is not the slime nor the cyano stuff just a light film of the good old algae.
Very pretty urchin this one is, purple in color and keeping the clowns entertined too.
Ophiura, I have done alot of reading about them but do you know of some really good sites that would be of interest?
If you need my email just let me know, I know posts like this might not be allowed on the forum.
:jumping: