Urchin Vs Snail

[OceanGirl07]

I just purchased a few snails to keep my tank clean but the urchin keeps piling them up. It looks like he's trying to eat them. Does anyone have any information?

 

[fermentedhiker]

What kind of urchin? Tuxedos like to collect camouflage and will pick up snails to help cover themselves.

 

[40B Knasty]

If it is a tuxedo urchin. They stack things on the top which is there butt. They do this for camo like stated by fermentedhiker, but they also do it to protect themselves from UV. They will grab anything not glued down. Whether it be green hair algae, corals, snail shells, rubble live rock, or chunky sand bed pieces. Their mouth is on the bottom. I have red tuxedo. Great for buffing live rock and glass. If their pins start get frail or fall off. They are malnourished. They are reef safe also, but not at all afraid to crawl across corals.

 

[OceanGirl07]

What kind of urchin? Tuxedos like to collect camouflage and will pick up snails to help cover themselves.

It's a pincushion. Thanks for the info.

 

[OceanGirl07]

If it is a tuxedo urchin. They stack things on the top which is there butt. They do this for camo like stated by fermentedhiker, but they also do it to protect themselves from UV. They will grab anything not glued down. Whether it be green hair algae, corals, snail shells, rubble live rock, or chunky sand bed pieces. Their mouth is on the bottom. I have red tuxedo. Great for buffing live rock and glass. If their pins start get frail or fall off. They are malnourished. They are reef safe also, but not at all afraid to crawl across corals.

Thanks for the great info it's a pincushion, grabs everything