Urchin in Reef

[cedarreef]

There are a few really cool, small urchins at my LFS. There is a little bit of hair algae that I noticed, and I know these eat algae. Are there any risks in buying an urchin in a mixed reef tank? I don't know what kind of urchin it is, but I'm almost positive it's a type of pincushion. It looks amazing, and I would love to have it, but will it be compatible?

 

[evanjah]

I have a medium spiny urchin in my tank. Mine is a newer reef tank. He leaves everything alone except he munches on the coralline, but I like him since its more I can add to my own little eco-system

 

[cedarreef]

Does he knock over any corals or hurt the other inhabitants?

 

[meowzer]

My pencil urchin ate a Kenya tree (it now lives in my refugium) My purple urchin bothers nothing

 

[teresaq]

I have two long spine in my 150, the other day one decided to push my rock over.

some hit the front of the tank, but no damage. Little brats,
T

 

[cedarreef]

That's what I was worried about... I have heard some horror stories of them knocking things over that caused a lot of damage. It's just a small pincushion identical to the one in the link:
http://www.aquaticsworlduk.com/images/P/multiurchin.jpg

 

[ibew41]

mine moves even more than the turbos in my tank

 

[jw1977]

Mine was a real pain in the butt. He was constantly knocking coral over and he got really big fast.

 

[cedarreef]

Sounds like a no go. Thanks guys. I don't want my monti cap to be broken and face down in the sand one morning.