Tuxedo Urchin Lost partial spikes

[kitti-fish]

I just got a little blue tuxedo urchin and during transport it lost some of his needles..as in one of the rows has no spines anymore. I can’t get a good photo on the missing spines but I placed it unto the rocks where it has enough algae to graze. A little worried I didn’t acclimate long enough (floated for half and hour and the drip acclimated for 20 min) as it hasn’t moved and I cannot actually tell if the spines are moving or if the water is just causing them to sway. I only can find one spine in the sand bed so it hasnt lost any more. My first urchin and a worried I did something wrong.

The side that has damaged spines and no spines

 

[Isaac Alves]

Usually a stress response.

 

[JumboShrimp]

... plus, if I recall, they are more active at night than in the day.

 

[kitti-fish]

It has not moved and dropped further spines as well as the top opening just looking hollow now. No sign of tentacles or life. Smelled it but it didn’t smell like anything either.

 

[malacoda]

Sorry, but it's a goner.

If it's hollow, all the insides are gone (likely eaten by CUC), and you're just looking at the empty shell.

 

[kitti-fish]

Sorry, but it's a goner.

If it's hollow, all the insides are gone (likely eaten by CUC), and you're just looking at the empty shell.

That’s what I assumed. I’m not sure what I did wrong. It had gotten damaged in the bag and the ride was a bit longer that anticipated plus it was cold. Not sure if I didn’t acclimate correctly or if the trip was just too much. I’ll try again I guess. Tank is stable and there is a BUNCH of algae for it to munch on.

 

[kitti-fish]

It’s till moving but the top is broken

 

[kitti-fish]

Update: I’m pretty sure it expelled its anus. Fish were frantically trying to eat it. Turning it around it looks like its beak area is falling apart as well. Some spine movement but it’s barely there. Reaching out to my LFS to see what I can do since the downfall was rather quick. My blue hermit crabs and new coral as doing well that was added same day.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Update: I’m pretty sure it expelled its anus. Fish were frantically trying to eat it. Turning it around it looks like its beak area is falling apart as well. Some spine movement but it’s barely there. Reaching out to my LFS to see what I can do since the downfall was rather quick. My blue hermit crabs and new coral as doing well that was added same day.

I don't think its a you thing if it was losing spines on the way home, it must have been in poor condition at the LFS. IMO. Hope it works out for you.

 

[kitti-fish]

I don't think its a you thing if it was losing spines on the way home, it must have been in poor condition at the LFS. IMO. Hope it works out for you.

Sadly no I decided to put it in the freezer and euthanize. It was no longer reacting even and the beak is detaching from the shell. As you can see see it was dropping even more needles. I’m pretty discouraged but I’ll try again next week. I’ll be testing my water to see if maybe it’s my levels although I don’t think so as nothing else seems to have issues. I had even preformed a water change a day prior in anticipation as well so it’s a bummer. I trust my LFS so maybe it was just a sick urchin? I have no clue. Either way, I’m out of $40 and sad overall. Algae galore for the next urchin I guess.