urchin food

[jojo_b]

I have a pencil urchin in my 75g. This morning I noticed that it had its feet around a small asterias star, and had it close to its mouth. When I walked by the tank a few hours later, the urchin had a bit of the star's arm close to its mouth.
Was my urchin actually eating the star?? I thought they were algae grazers...

 

[patandlace]

They're omnivores and probably was eating it. Hope it's not in a reef tank.

 

[alyssia]

I have never had my pincushion urchin eat anything but algae, but the pencil urchins are supposedly more predatory.

 

[tangs123]

i thought urchins ate corraline algea

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by tangs123
i thought urchins ate corraline algea

They do if their isn't any green algae.

 

[blizz75]

my pencil eats anything on the glass, little stars, pest anomenes and algae off the rocks and glass. Keeps it real clean i havent had to clean the glass for a couple months. i may be wrong about who is cleaning it but there are no other inhabitants and it wasnt me!

 

[xdave]

Pencils will scavange meat. If theres no dead meat he might kill. Pretty easy to outrun though. Give him a piece of krill once in a while.
My Longspine used to keep my glass spotless. He'd go back and forth in rows like somebody mowing their lawn.

 

[blizz75]

Good idea ill have to try that tonight

 

[jojo_b]

Wow. Thanks for the info! I think from now on, I'll be a little more dedicated in my attempts to feed the urchin.
And no, the tank isn't a full reef tank. I do have hopes for it though.