If you think urchins only eat algae. Think again

[Paul B]

This long spine urchin has been in my tank for quite a few years and when ever he can get it, he enjoys some clam for dessert.

I sometimes have to help him because when he approaches a piece of clam, he impales it on a spine and being he is all "thumbs" he can't get the thing off so I suck the clam off and shoot it where he can more easily get to it. This clam was a little smaller than a marble. He devoured it in a few minutes then moved along before any one noticed.





http://s258.photobucket.com/user/urchsearch/media/003_zpsv8yvgdsm.jpg.html





He is almost finished here. It takes him a while to maneuver it to his mouth but he gets it there.

 

[brandon429]

nice

they rasp so well, a primary method of algae control on many reefs for sure. rock biters, coralline snackers at times too, bc their rasp is so efficient.
parrots
turtles
sand poopers all of them

did he eat any of the shell

 

[Paul B]

I didn't give him any shell. I save those for myself. :rolleyes:

 

[Fishmanz]

They will also eat small acro frags

 

[Paul B]

I thought you said "Frogs". :eek:

 

[keddre]

I might try this, mine currently eats corraline but I'm lucky that it grows quite quickly in my tank. So does the urchin. How do you get it to him though? I'm still finicky around mine, especially now that he's tripled in size

 

[Paul B]

I use one of these. This urchin was as big as a nickel when I got him, but I don't remember when that was. I think he was in the same tank as a trilobite.

I am not finicky around him. I used to have an urchin collection business where I SCUBA dove for them. (Urchin Searchin Ent.) I sold hundreds of them to hobbyists for algae removal.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I have a pin cushion that I might try this with. I'm always worried about him having enough algae on the rocks... you can definitely see a trail of fresh scraped rock behind him.