TBS hiker. Urchin or...?

[William Sharkspeare]

At first I thought these were polyps of some sort. They are small and stationary. Then the other night I noticed a larger one. This one may be on the move I need another night/day to confirm. Could these be anything other than urchins? I have at least 4.
@LiverockRocks

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[ReeferHD]

definitely an urchin, I would say it's either the rock boring urchin (echinometra mathaei) or purple spined urchin (arbacia punctulata)

 

[William Sharkspeare]

Note pictures are not all the same animal. They are different.

That being said. Yes the big one has moved slightly or at least flattened out

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

At first I thought these were polyps of some sort. They are small and stationary. Then the other night I noticed a larger one. This one may be on the move I need another night/day to confirm. Could these be anything other than urchins? I have at least 4.
@LiverockRocks

It is the season for juvenile purple spine urchins! Congratulations!
TBS Urchins

The flattened one probably was injured during shipping and is the same as the others.

There are only 2 types of urchins on the TBS farm - pincushions and purple spines.

 

[William Sharkspeare]

It is the season for juvenile purple spine urchins! Congratulations!
TBS Urchins

The flattened one probably was injured during shipping and is the same as the others.

There are only 2 types of urchins on the TBS farm - pincushions and purple spines.

Fun. Other hitchhikers I have found.

3 mantis. Given to LFS. Too noisy. Tank much quieter now, even though
1 pistol shrimp
Couple hidden cup corals
another coral, maybe a smooth star
couple ceriths
couple crabs

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

Fun. Other hitchhikers I have found.

3 mantis. Given to LFS. Too noisy. Tank much quieter now, even though
1 pistol shrimp
Couple hidden cup corals
another coral, maybe a smooth star
couple ceriths
couple crabs

That is awesome! Enjoy those little urchins, they grow very fast.

Pretty Prickly Purple Urchins

 

[William Sharkspeare]

@LiverockRocks How large do these get? You mention 3" but is that the length of their spines or the size of the animal?

edit, nevermind. I see 2-5 in the link you just posted :)

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

@LiverockRocks How large do these get? You mention 3" but is that the length of their spines or the size of the animal?

3 - 5" - total animal
Growth slows when they reach 3".

How did you catch the mantises?

 

[William Sharkspeare]

How did you catch the mantises?

Lol. I tried a bottle trap but I grew impatient so I went with the nuclear option and did a little B & E. Very minimal damage to the rocks.

3 - 5" - total animal
Growth slows when they reach 3".

Do you notice them eating a lot of coralline?

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

Lol. I tried a bottle trap but I grew impatient so I went with the nuclear option and did a little B & E. Very minimal damage to the rocks.


Do you notice them eating a lot of coralline?

When hungry, purple spines will munch coralline.