Urchin hasn't moved since added, losing spines

[sassmastawillis]

I added a short spine urchin to my tank a few days ago. He wedged himself under a rock and has not moved since and I can see a few of his spines on the sand. As far as I know, all tank parameters are ok. Is this normal acclimation, or should I be worrying?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Is there algae in your tank for it to eat?

 

[flashsmith]

Pretty sure it's unalived. They are pretty hardy so my guess is he was already on his way out when they picked it out of the tank. Pick it up and the spines should be moving. If not it's unalived.

 

[sassmastawillis]

Is there algae in your tank for it to eat?

The back wall is covered in bubble algae

 

[sassmastawillis]

Pretty sure it's unalived. They are pretty hardy so my guess is he was already on his way out when they picked it out of the tank. Pick it up and the spines should be moving. If not it's unalived.

His spines moved around when I poked him with my finger

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Algae in your tank for it to eat? How did it look when you first got it?

 

[Tahoe61]

I added a short spine urchin to my tank a few days ago. He wedged himself under a rock and has not moved since and I can see a few of his spines on the sand. As far as I know, all tank parameters are ok. Is this normal acclimation, or should I be worrying?

I would double check your parameters.
I would also look late at night to see if the urchin is out and about.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

It's common to drop a few spines while it adjusts. If its dropping 10+, I'd be concerned.

Was it dropping spines in the bag while transported? Did it have any loss of spines before you initially got it?

Spine loss can indicate water issues, stress or starvation. It also occasionally just sheds spines to regrow new ones.

Your biggest indicator will be lack of tentacle movement. If its not moving and you don't see these wiggling around. Its not good. You can also try giving it a piece of nori and see if it grabs.

 

[sassmastawillis]

It's common to drop a few spines while it adjusts. If its dropping 10+, I'd be concerned.

Was it dropping spines in the bag while transported? Did it have any loss of spines before you initially got it?

Spine loss can indicate water issues, stress or starvation. It also occasionally just sheds spines to regrow new ones.

Your biggest indicator will be lack of tentacle movement. If its not moving and you don't see these wiggling around. Its not good. You can also try giving it a piece of nori and see if it grabs.

He's dropped a few, looks like less than 10.
Didn't notice any spines dropping when I transported him, but wasn't really keeping an eye out for it. He moves his spines when I poke him with my finger, so he's still alive.
I'll do a water change later tonight just in case some of my parameters are off and my testing is off

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is there algae in your tank for it to eat?

Often this happens due to stress from starvation, high phosphates, low salinity and elevated nitrates

 

[Serg1976]

I added a short spine urchin to my tank a few days ago. He wedged himself under a rock and has not moved since and I can see a few of his spines on the sand. As far as I know, all tank parameters are ok. Is this normal acclimation, or should I be worrying?

Try feeding him some nori , and check on him at night when all is dark

 

[sassmastawillis]

So I tried feeding him some nori, but I'm not sure he got much of it before my other inverts joined the buffet. Did a water change yesterday in case my parameters were off and he seemed to be moving around fine. Thought I was in the clear until I checked on him this morning and he's lost almost all his spines. Not sure what could have been the cause now, none of my other thank inhabitants seem stressed.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

So I tried feeding him some nori, but I'm not sure he got much of it before my other inverts joined the buffet. Did a water change yesterday in case my parameters were off and he seemed to be moving around fine. Thought I was in the clear until I checked on him this morning and he's lost almost all his spines. Not sure what could have been the cause now, none of my other thank inhabitants seem stressed.

Just keep an eye on it. While its a bad sign, it can still bounce back if its still moving around.

Its probably nothing you did and its just stressed the hell out. Your experience was like mine when I first got one. Mine died within 4 days. I tried again a month later with a more bigger one. Small ones tend to struggle. Skipped drip acclimation and just bag floated this time. That sucker took off the moment I dropped it in. Still have it now in my dads tank.