Long spine sea urchin problem

Kenny Kirby · Jun 12, 2018

Well my sea urchin made his last mistake in my display tank. Tonight just caught him sitting on my newly purchased coral munching down and when I tried to move him (which was not smart) I got stabbed in the thumb. He has now been relocated to the sump. Hopefully the coral is able to survive.

My poor thumb

Urchins new home for now

Hopefully the coral makes it. Its such a cool bright reddish orange

mike werner · Jun 12, 2018

glad ya caught him without donating anymore blood.never been a fan for both those reasons.

Handegard · Jun 12, 2018

I have a 10” diadema setosum, and he’s been a model citizen in my tank. So I picked up a ~8” diadema sp. that I thought was a setosum, turned out between his black spines, he has absolutely clear hypodermic sharp spines. Little jerk stung me, and now I’m afraid to take him out lol.

Kenny Kirby · Jun 12, 2018

@mike werner Yea after my first attempt with my hands I decided to use a wooden spoon and container which went much better. I always thought it was him chewing on corals but had never caught him in the act until now. Never had a problem with my other urchin but that was a pincushion

@Handegard Ouch that sounds like it hurt. Don't know if I got stung or just stabbed but it hurt and bled pretty good. Didn't not try to move him with my hands after that lol

Handegard · Jun 12, 2018

Kenny Kirby said:
@mike werner Yea after my first attempt with my hands I decided to use a wooden spoon and container which went much better. I always thought it was him chewing on corals but had never caught him in the act until now. Never had a problem with my other urchin but that was a pincushion

@Handegard Ouch that sounds like it hurt. Don't know if I got stung or just stabbed but it hurt and bled pretty good. Didn't not try to move him with my hands after that lol

I guess stung might have been the wrong word, just stabbed.

The best part was that as soon as it happened, my girlfriend arrogantly said something to the effect of “jeez, let me show you how it’s done” and then got stabbed a bunch more than me.