Pincushion Urchin a Nightmare

[Brandon Rush]

So I thought Pincushion urchins were reef safe? Just tried to save a zoa plug and he literally just ate 6 heads. Anyone know what's going on?

View attachment 606030

 

[Leslie Tabor]

He may not have "eaten" them, they like to wear stuff. If it is not glued down they will steal it.

 

[tdileo]

Probably ate them. This happened to me when I got my pincushion urchin. He sat on top of the frag plug for an entire day while I was out, dad sent me a picture in the morning and when I got home that night he was still there. I pulled him off and 4 or 5 polyps were gone and I banished him to my sump for like 2 months.
I added him back recently and when I feed my corals I make sure to target feed him some mysis and nori. He hasn’t touched any zoas since.

 

[Fishmanz]

He may not have "eaten" them, they like to wear stuff. If it is not glued down they will steal it.

First, it’s an urchin doing what urchins do, they eat and small frags unfortunately do get eaten.

Second, they don’t like to “wear” stuff...

Third, they don’t “steal.”


It’s an urchin moving around eating and pooping, that’s it. An urchin isn’t going to be wearing some zoas that it stole off a frag plug. [emoji849]

 

[Brandon Rush]

First, it’s an urchin doing what urchins do, they eat and small frags unfortunately do get eaten.

Second, they don’t like to “wear” stuff...

Third, they don’t “steal.”


It’s an urchin moving around eating and pooping, that’s it. An urchin isn’t going to be wearing some zoas that it stole off a frag plug. [emoji849]

Lol

 

[Brandon Rush]

Probably ate them. This happened to me when I got my pincushion urchin. He sat on top of the frag plug for an entire day while I was out, dad sent me a picture in the morning and when I got home that night he was still there. I pulled him off and 4 or 5 polyps were gone and I banished him to my sump for like 2 months.
I added him back recently and when I feed my corals I make sure to target feed him some mysis and nori. He hasn’t touched any zoas since.

I'm about to get rid of him he's been nothing but a nightmare for the tank. He's eaten snails, my cleaner shrimp, zoas. It's time for him to be banished to the LFS

 

[tdileo]

I'm about to get rid of him he's been nothing but a nightmare for the tank. He's eaten snails, my cleaner shrimp, zoas. It's time for him to be banished to the LFS

Jesus, mine has never gone after snails or shrimp! I’ve seen him carry some snails around but that is crazy. I think yours is either starving or really rogue.

 

[Brandon Rush]

Yea I watched him devour a shrimp, I initially heard these guys were reef safe, but I guess I got the exception.

 

[Betty1964]

I have three urchins in my tanks for about four years. They bump into things but I have never had them eat anything that wasn't already dead.

 

[Philt56]

Not sure how it could catch a shrimp, I would think it can’t move that fast and also hold onto it. Shrimp would have to be dead or really asleep. Sure it wasnt a molt?

I have a couple plus a tuxedo, they are almost always on my glass where there’s tons of coralline. Hardly ever on the live rock where I hoped they’d eat the algae there.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

First, it’s an urchin doing what urchins do, they eat and small frags unfortunately do get eaten.

Second, they don’t like to “wear” stuff...

Third, they don’t “steal.”


It’s an urchin moving around eating and pooping, that’s it. An urchin isn’t going to be wearing some zoas that it stole off a frag plug. [emoji849]

My pin cushion urchin was wearing an acro frag on it's head that wasn't glued down. It's moved to my frag rack on a plug now. Urchins will most definitely wear whatever it can on it's head. I've caught mine with 4 cerith snails on it's head, all of them reaching for something to grab on too.

You've never had an urchin have you...?

 

[Waters]

Actually they do like to wear stuff.....they do it to camouflage their bodies for protection. As far as stealing to annoy you....not so much :)

 

[SashimiTurtle]

In reality, no they don’t. Maybe in your fantasy land. Please post evidence of such behavior... I won’t be holding my breath.

You can breath now...
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/show-me-what-your-urchin-carries-around.319985/

 

[Victoria M]

First, it’s an urchin doing what urchins do, they eat and small frags unfortunately do get eaten.

Second, they don’t like to “wear” stuff...

Third, they don’t “steal.”


It’s an urchin moving around eating and pooping, that’s it. An urchin isn’t going to be wearing some zoas that it stole off a frag plug. [emoji849]

mine did. and mushrooms, snail shells, a tiny toadstool.

 

[SandJ]

In reality, no they don’t. Maybe in your fantasy land. Please post evidence of such behavior... I won’t be holding my breath.

https://www.thoughtco.com/all-about-ocean-camouflage-2291908

 

[Victoria M]

In reality, no they don’t. Maybe in your fantasy land. Please post evidence of such behavior... I won’t be holding my breath.

and maybe try being nice. geesh just because you have not experienced these things does not mean you should be so critical of others who have infact experienced such things. live and learn. :)

 

[ThunderGoose]

Mine is currently obsessed with two feather duster worms, a frag of zoas and a couple of snail shells. I've never seen her eat anything but nori. My tuxedo is not nearly as obsessed with carrying things - she'll usually only carry one thing at a time.

Yes, there's an urchin in there - the macroalgae is attached to the rock rubble and she carried both around, plus a frag of a hammer coral. She gave up on the macroalgae eventually. I was shocked to see her lift if off the sand as she moved around. I would have thought it was too heavy!

 

[ThunderGoose]

Well duh, they run into things and they get stuck between/on their spines.

I can ensure you it isn’t on purpose.

So let me rephrase:

Please post any actual scientific and credible information showing such behavior in the wild from an actual, you know, scientist,biologist, etc.

Until then, please stop spreading false information.

Take a close look at my picture (previous post). That frag plug isn't "stuck" on her spines. She has long "feet" that she uses to grasp things.

Oh, and I AM an actual biologist.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Well duh, they run into things and they get stuck between/on their spines.

I can ensure you it isn’t on purpose.

So let me rephrase:

Please post any actual scientific and credible information showing such behavior in the wild from an actual, you know, scientist,biologist, etc.

Until then, please stop spreading false information.

He's just a troll guys... stop feeding.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Wrong thread..