Sea urchin with a dark wound like patch.

[ssunthar]

Hi Expert,

This short torn white sea urchin been with me for almost 2 years... always very active and happy moving around and cleaning the tank. A few days ago i noticed it not moving much and as I inspected it, I noticed a big dark/black wound like patch on it.

It also look like a burn mark.. what could it be? Anything I can do to help? I can see it getting weaker by the days.

Thanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

It has what looks like bubble algae on it which may have been there a while

 

[ssunthar]

It has what looks like bubble algae on it which may have been there a while

Thanks. I noticed that too.. but can bubble algae grow on an animal that is still alive?

In that case what should I do to help the sea urchin?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks. I noticed that too.. but can bubble algae grow on an animal that is still alive?

In that case what should I do to help the sea urchin?

Yes it can
On the urchin, I would add liquid vibrant at 89% of recommended and reduce white light intensity or number of hours white light is on

 

[ssunthar]

Yes it can
On the urchin, I would add liquid vibrant at 89% of recommended and reduce white light intensity or number of hours white light is on

Thanks.. will try that.

And today i realized the white patch (which I recalled happened before the 'algae') got bigger over night...

Not sure if any other tank mates which are mainly fishes are responsible for this.

 

[ssunthar]

Thanks.. will try that.

And today i realized the white patch (which I recalled happened before the 'algae') got bigger over night...

Not sure if any other tank mates which are mainly fishes are responsible for this.

A quick update... the urchin is no more... by the time I discovered it....all left was only the skeleton.

³

Looked at the dark patch carefully and I realooked at the black/grean patch. I am very sure it was not algae.. it is just the bone structure that looks like bubble algae.

I am still interested to find out what caused the urchin to die... so quickly. Thanks.

 

[Duncan62]

Thanks.. will try that.

And today i realized the white patch (which I recalled happened before the 'algae') got bigger over night...

Not sure if any other tank mates which are mainly fishes are responsible for this.

Spine loss. Bad sign. I've manually removed a patch of bubbles from a cristada torch. It damaged it but it's OK. I've lost an urchin. Dinos. Lost spines then died. Hope he gets better.