Is my sea urchin dead

[yellow tang lover]

I have had him for a year and he is a blue tudexo urchin

 

[PanchoG]

The picture is not very clear but if he has lost the spines and have not moved in days, then yes. Sorry.

 

[yellow tang lover]

Sad. I only had him for a year and a half he was one of my favorite animal to watch.

 

[yellow tang lover]

Wait he’s losing his spines but the spines that are left are moving is that normal

The picture is not very clear but if he has lost the spines and have not moved in days, then yes. Sorry.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Wait he’s losing his spines but the spines that are left are moving is that normal

pick it up and sniff you'll know ;)

 

[yellow tang lover]

His spines are still moving a bit

 

[yellow tang lover]

pick it up and sniff you'll know ;)

He just smells like sea water

 

[yellow tang lover]

He has lost like 75% of his spines tho

 

[yellow tang lover]

I’m just going to leave him in the tank and see if he moves

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Wait he’s losing his spines but the spines that are left are moving is that normal

Losing spines is a sign of failing health in urchins - does it have enough food to eat in the tank? How are your parameters (specifically)? Have they been swinging at all?

 

[yellow tang lover]

Losing spines is a sign of failing health in urchins - does it have enough food to eat in the tank? How are your parameters (specifically)? Have they been swinging at all?

My parameters are not really swinging but my nitrates have gone really low but he stayed in the same spot for a couple days and he was upside down and spines falling off so I think he’s dead

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Low nitrates shouldn't affect it. Now high nitrates can cause it to drop spines that or you are having swings somewhere. A lot of times we don't see it because we test at certain times. At least for mine it did during high nitrates which required a wc and cutting back on food. It lost a good amount of spines but has now recovered.

As long as you see its tentacles/spines moving around. Its alive and has a chance. If you don't see any of that its dead. If its not moving around and eating but you still see movement. You can try spot feeding it as well.