Sea urchin picked up one of my hermit crabs

[SeaMaiden92]

Hi guys. My sea urchin picked up one of my hermit crabs and is carrying it around on his back. Should I try to get it off of him? Would that hurt my urchin? Can my hermit crab escape, or if I can't get my urchin to let go will this kill my hermit crab? If someone can give me some advice that would be awesome! Thanks!

 

[blaxsun]

Just gently pull it off and the crab and urchin will go their separate ways.

 

[kittenbritches]

Definitely not an emergency. Reach in there and grab the hermit. It won't hurt either of them.

 

[SeaMaiden92]

Oh great! I wasn't sure if interfering might hurt them. Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do not pull as it has little suction like fibers which could get damaged. Grab a small container of freshwater dechlorinated and same temp as tank water - remove urchin and hermit and place in container. Urchin fairly quickly will release hermis. Place back in tank. Urchin on one end and hermit on the other

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Hi guys. My sea urchin picked up one of my hermit crabs and is carrying it around on his back. Should I try to get it off of him? Would that hurt my urchin? Can my hermit crab escape, or if I can't get my urchin to let go will this kill my hermit crab? If someone can give me some advice that would be awesome! Thanks!

This isn't called emergency. This is called Tuesday. Welcome to having an urchin.

 

[SeaMaiden92]

Do not pull as it has little suction like fibers which could get damaged. Grab a small container of freshwater dechlorinated and same temp as tank water - remove urchin and hermit and place in container. Urchin fairly quickly will release hermis. Place back in tank. Urchin on one end and hermit on the other

Thank you! My hermit crab is free!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you! My hermit crab is free!

Note- Other than pin cushion, most urchins will drag frags, shells and similar around tank without hesitation

 

[Ryan hirano]

Haha urchins pick everything up. Won't be the last one lol

 

[SeaMaiden92]

Note- Other than pin cushion, most urchins will drag frags, shells and similar around tank with hesitation

They're so weird! I love them! There's never a dull moment in my tank!

 

[vetteguy53081]

They're so weird! I love them! There's never a dull moment in my tank!

Reason to have inverts

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Do not pull as it has little suction like fibers which could get damaged. Grab a small container of freshwater dechlorinated and same temp as tank water - remove urchin and hermit and place in container. Urchin fairly quickly will release hermis. Place back in tank. Urchin on one end and hermit on the other

This seems unsustainable every time in an urgent pick something up.

And what about what you're having to lift the urchin from? Mine are constantly connected to something so if you had to lift the urchin out to dip it, aren't you pulling off or doing damage to way more of the suction cups than was exposed to the small thing It was connected to, If You actually did any damage?

If I grab something my urchin will let it go pretty easily.i let it release, not pull.

 

[iamahab]

Omg why is this so funny. I need a urchin asap

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Omg why is this so funny. I need a urchin asap

+1 I've been researching urchins and I need one even more badly now, lol