Longspine Sea urchin

[Calireefer92]

hey guys just got a longspine Sea urchin last week and today I noticed it was losing spines any help?

 

[James M]

Poor water quality will make them lose spines. Do you have sufficient algea in the tank for it to eat ?

 

[Hitman]

^^^ This. They do not do well in high nitrates. They will also lose their spines if they are starving. Feed it nori strips or any dry algae food. Once a month I will find mine and tuck a strip of nori under him just to make sure he eats.

 

[Calireefer92]

Did a water change on Wednesday the nitrates are at 10ppm and salinity is at 1.023 moderate to high water flow

 

[Hitman]

Did a water change on Wednesday the nitrates are at 10ppm and salinity is at 1.023 moderate to high water flow

Any algae in the tank for it to eat? They are eating machines.

 

[Calireefer92]

Any algae in the tank for it to eat? They are eating machines.

Yes

Any algae in the tank for it to eat? They are eating machines.

 

[Hitman]

Well I'm back to James theory there's something in the water bothering it then.

 

[laverda]

^^^ This. They do not do well in high nitrates. They will also lose their spines if they are starving. Feed it nori strips or any dry algae food. Once a month I will find mine and tuck a strip of nori under him just to make sure he eats.

What do you consider high. Mine has done great for the last year with nitrates at 20-25. It is amazing watching them maneuver a piece of nori to get it to their mouth. Mine spawned 2 nights ago. Was cool to watch. Sadly I did not realize what was going on in this to get it on video.

 

[Hitman]

What do you consider high. Mine has done great for the last year with nitrates at 20-25. It is amazing watching them maneuver a piece of nori to get it to their mouth. Mine spawned 2 nights ago. Was cool to watch. Sadly I did not realize what was going on in this to get it on video.

Don't know for a fact but I was told over 50 ppm is hard on them. Thankfully I have never been anywhere near that mark to know.

 

[Calireefer92]

Don't know for a fact but I was told over 50 ppm is hard on them. Thankfully I have never been anywhere near that mark to know.

What do you consider high. Mine has done great for the last year with nitrates at 20-25. It is amazing watching them maneuver a piece of nori to get it to their mouth. Mine spawned 2 nights ago. Was cool to watch. Sadly I did not realize what was going on in this to get it on

What do you consider high. Mine has done great for the last year with nitrates at 20-25. It is amazing watching them maneuver a piece of nori to get it to their mouth. Mine spawned 2 nights ago. Was cool to watch. Sadly I did not realize what was going on in this to get it on video.

So if yours is doing fine with 20-25 should I be worried about mine because my nitrates are not that high

 

[artieg1]

What fish do you have in there? I went through similar experiences, learned that the angels I thought were, well, angels, were not. Soon as I would leave the room, they'd tear into the urchins. So check for predation.

 

[Hitman]

What fish do you have in there? I went through similar experiences, learned that the angels I thought were, well, angels, were not. Soon as I would leave the room, they'd tear into the urchins. So check for predation.

That's a brave fish! I was cleaning my tank and hit my Urchin with my bare hand and oh lord that hurts!!! What did the Angel turn out to be?

 

[mogul1906]

Poor water quality will make them lose spines. Do you have sufficient algea in the tank for it to eat ?

Wish I had known that