Hairy Pin Cushion Urchin Trying on Hats

M

MartinMan

Premium Member
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu2cHaKXw7k] [[Has anyone had any experience keeping these?  ][It’s a very beautiful and interesting critter and is really eating Hair algae, but also seems to be eating coralline, not to mention doing a little bulldozing.][  ][He knocked over a zoas colony I had on a small rock, which is now glued down, but I’m concerned that he might do damage walking through my zoas. ][ ][I know they like to wear hats, already has a lot of stuff stuck to him, just don’t want my Utter Chaos to be the next one he tries on.][   ][He’s pretty big, about tennis ball size, probably should have just gotten the smaller Tuxedo, but couldn’t resist this guy.]] 
 
I have a friend with one (looking for one myself too).   Anything that is not glued down well is at risk, although with no ill intent.  Glue everything down and all is well.  His tank is overflowing with zoas, lps, sps, and the urchin does not seem to be damaging anything other than nuisance algae and coraline.
 
If losing a little coralline is the only downside he was well worth the purchase.  Twenty bucks at Salt Water Paradise.  So interesting to watch.  He wakes up just about 10 minutes before Full Spectrum goes off, finds a spot and chews away for a couple of hours under the actinic, then crawls back to his little hideaway for the night and is there in the morning.  Seems to feed for only three hours.  I highly recommend this animal. So far.
 
That's a great video. I've had a tuxedo urchin for a few months. The only problem I've had is that he sometimes picks up shells that are still being used, so then I have to go rescue the poor snail or hermit. Sometimes I'll offer it small rocks or shells as compensation for taking one away. The way I figure it, the more he carries around, the less likely he is to pick up something new. 
 
Poor guy, but I get it. You don't have a lot of open space for him.  Your tank looks really good.  Much better than mine. 
 
I'm not understanding the problem.  Is he ripping up your zoas?  Urchins often do pretty well in small tanks, and the zoas are generally fine once the urchin passes.  I'd be very surprised if he was actually eating the zoas.
 
 he is harmless.  Mows over my zoas and reopen after he moves on.  Actually doing a grate job eating hair algae
 
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