Starving urchin?

[BuddyBonButt]

I've made similar posts to this but I haven't really gotten an answer I feel satisfied my questioning.

I just recently fought off a massive Dino outbreak. Due to the dino, there was no other algae in the tank. I'm worried my urchin might starve soon, the reason I say this, when I add Nori to a rock by rubber band, I never see the urchin eating it. This is a large 90 gallon tank, could it be possible it can't find it? I thought it's sensory tentacles could sniff it out. It's basically sterile now that the dino is gone, I did add copepods, there is a blooming community of them, and phytoplankton. Is the urchin not hunting down the Nori because it's getting enough food? If he is getting enough food, what could he possibly be eating?

My worry is doubled down because my large Turbo snail also isn't moving at all, but I know it isn't dead. But it also won't hunt down the Nori so I don't know

 

[AydenLincoln]

I’d buy some algae pellets and gently place him on some and crank up the lights to create some glass algae as most urchins only eat algae in the wild and captivity.

 

[BuddyBonButt]

I’d buy some algae pellets and gently place him on some and crank up the lights to create some glass algae as most urchins only eat algae in the wild and captivity.

I've got Algae wafers, will that work?

 

[AydenLincoln]

I've got Algae wafers, will that work?

Yes! And I meant wafers.:)

 

[BuddyBonButt]

Yes!

Ok, I'll try in the morning, I have a deep tank and just broke my grippers, so I'll need to go to my lfs for new ones

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Just stick the Nori or wafers on top of him until he grabs it. I feed my purple urchins that way.

 

[BuddyBonButt]

Just stick the Nori or wafers on top of him until he grabs it. I feed my purple urchins that way.

I've tried, doesn't grab it

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I've tried, doesn't grab it

is it a short spine or long spine style? Maybe go to the Japanese and get some fresh seaweed? try that..

 

[BuddyBonButt]

is it a short spine or long spine style? Maybe go to the Japanese and get some fresh seaweed? try that..

Oh wow, didn't realize I didn't make mention of the type, it's a blue tuxedo urchin

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Oh wow, didn't realize I didn't make mention of the type, it's a blue tuxedo urchin

Yes so that type of urchin will "collect" just about anything it can pick up. I have the luxury of getting fresh kelp a few blocks away, but again give your local Japanese market a call. The texture of the algae wafer may not be right.

 

[BuddyBonButt]

Yes so that type of urchin will "collect" just about anything it can pick up. I have the luxury of getting fresh kelp a few blocks away, but again give your local Japanese market a call. The texture of the algae wafer may not be right.

So nori isn't good either?

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

So nori isn't good either?

Nori is freeze dried kelp the texture may not be right. Its akin to why some fish will not eat flake food even though its made up of the same stuff frozen is. That's not to say you can’t train them to eat nori.

 

[simplysyran]

I’d buy some algae pellets and gently place him on some and crank up the lights to create some glass algae as most urchins only eat algae in the wild and captivity.

What type of algae wafers? I've got both fresh and saltwater tanks but the only algae wafers I have are for my plecos. I get almost all of my marine tank items online. The closest place to get marine supplies, other than petsmart which is very limited, is 2 hours away.

 

[AydenLincoln]

What type of algae wafers? I've got both fresh and saltwater tanks but the only algae wafers I have are for my plecos. I get almost all of my marine tank items online. The closest place to get marine supplies, other than petsmart which is very limited, is 2 hours away.

PetSmart sells these too they are for both if it’s this brand! You could try nori too which is plain dried seaweed you can get it at the grocery store.

 

[simplysyran]

PetSmart sells these too they are for both if it’s this brand! You could try nori too which is plain dried seaweed you can get it at the grocery store.

Thank you.

 

[Rick5]

If your tank doesn't have any algae, I would give the urchin to another reefer or your LFS and beef up your clean up crew later (such as with another urchin) when the tank grows algae.

Everyone agrees you can drop in a wafer or some nori to feed urchins, but that's tedious and it leaves you wondering whether the urchin is actually going after/eating the wafers or nori (hence this thread).

Additionally, it is not uncommon for a Dino outbreak to wipe out a cleanup crew.