Low metabolism for pencil urchin?

[Kapachuka3]

Ive had a pencil urchin for about 3-5 months now and i have not seen him eat anything at all. He is doing good and not losing spines or anything, i put nori in the tank for my conchs and other urchin sometimes but he never touches it. Low metabolism or something?

 

[HuduVudu]

@Kapachuka3 inverts need iron. IME you really really need to supplement iron.

 

[DaJMasta]

It could be eating something else. Some urchins are more herbivorous than others, and pencil urchins won't just be eating your typical green algae - I believe they can eat coralline and some kinds of encrusting things.

If it has all its spines and is moving around like you would expect, it's eating something, you just have to figure out what.

 

[Kapachuka3]

It could be eating something else. Some urchins are more herbivorous than others, and pencil urchins won't just be eating your typical green algae - I believe they can eat coralline and some kinds of encrusting things.

If it has all its spines and is moving around like you would expect, it's eating something, you just have to figure out what.

Ok cool, yeah hes definetly doing great hes moving around and everything.

 

[Trenox]

Are you watching him at night or only in the daytime?

I haven't had a pencil urchin before, but my Reef Urchins usually hide in a crevice all day and then come out to eat at night, before returning to their original spot to hide for another day. So if I were only watching them in the daylight hours, it'd probably look like they weren't eating anything.

 

[Kapachuka3]

Are you watching him at night or only in the daytime?

I haven't had a pencil urchin before, but my Reef Urchins usually hide in a crevice all day and then come out to eat at night, before returning to their original spot to hide for another day. So if I were only watching them in the daylight hours, it'd probably look like they weren't eating anything.

I kinda watch him alot, he seems to be doing great actually.