Urchins have arrived spineless

[wilks]

When I opened the bag from SWF today the two pincushion urchins had both lost all their spines. Are they dead?
Everything else in the order was fine but the urchins look like they took a beating.

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by wilks
http:///forum/post/3075375
When I opened the bag from SWF today the two pincushion urchins had both lost all their spines. Are they dead?
Everything else in the order was fine but the urchins look like they took a beating.
In my experience a spineless urchin means a dead urchin...kind of a drawback of having one...messy. Unless you have a hermit crab like mine that eats urchins so spines are not a problem.

 

[bla403]

I just received 2 pincushion urchins from swf today also and they were completely spineless. All the spines were in the bag.
Not sure what to do either.

 

[usirchchris]

I would post these concerns in the ask SWF topic, or call their customer service number.

 

[rlablan]

I don't know what you have done about this problem but I have a pencil urchin and when he first arrived, he lost some spines. He hadn't lost them all but a fair few. He is re-growing them now. I researched and they say that when stressed, urchins will shed their spines.

 

[ophiura]

all is not lost...they can break in transport, so I personally would acclimate and see. It is the tube feet that will tell you reallly if they are alive or dead.