Urchin

[Freenow54]

Hi: I bought a tuxedo urchin 4 days ago. I cant find it now for 23 days. Do they burrow or hide through the day or is it dead somewhere?

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Hi: I bought a tuxedo urchin 4 days ago. I cant find it now for 23 days. Do they burrow or hide through the day or is it dead somewhere?

I think it would be pretty unusual for a tuxedo to be hiding in the sand, but I will say that their camouflage is pretty impressive. Even in my nano tank, I really have to look for it. And if they pick up any debris/algae, they can be even more camouflaged. What size tank do you have, and do you have crevices in rock work that it could be in?

 

[Freenow54]

I think it would be pretty unusual for a tuxedo to be hiding in the sand, but I will say that their camouflage is pretty impressive. Even in my nano tank, I really have to look for it. And if they pick up any debris/algae, they can be even more camouflaged. What size tank do you have, and do you have crevices in rock work that it could be in?

Yes its a 90 and lots of hiding places thanks hopefully it will show up

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Yes its a 90 and lots of hiding places thanks hopefully it will show up

Hopefully, all is well! Update us if you find the little guy!

 

[dakoop]

They are excellent at hide n seek

 

[Tahoe61]

Look late at night. Urchins have a homing behavior. The urchin will return to the same spot to rest and hide until night.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Look late at night. Urchins have a homing behavior. The urchin will return to the same spot to rest and hide until night.

I had no idea this was a thing! That's pretty cool.

 

[BryanM]

Mine hid all the time. usually half way up on the backside of a rock.

 

[Tahoe61]

I had no idea this was a thing! That's pretty cool.

Chitons, Limpets and Abalone will do the same. They leave a pheromone trail that they follow. It blows me away that they do the same in rough tide zones. If this urchin found a spot in the back of the scape you might not see it for weeks if the urchin is only feeding at night.

 

[dakoop]

 

[Freenow54]

I came down at night nope, I was told about the trail again nope. How does everyone feel about me buying another one? been about 6 days now I think

 

[BryanM]

I'd still wait, I mean, unless you've got something thats going to break its shell and eat it, I think you need to find him.

Mine died, internals gone, but shell left behind.

 

[Freenow54]

I'd still wait, I mean, unless you've got something thats going to break its shell and eat it, I think you need to find him.

Mine died, internals gone, but shell left behind.

Thanks for the reply My wife came down a bit ago and spotted it. So now I know better cool to see it out and about

 

[BryanM]

Nice! Yep, mine moved around and was often hiding. Weird little critters.

 

[DrV4n]

Same, mine can be hard to find because it hides in the rock work but in the morning I can see the squeaky clean rock it left behind the previous night. I was surprised that lives entirely on one rock structure and doesn’t roam around the tank.

 

[Freenow54]

Same, mine can be hard to find because it hides in the rock work but in the morning I can see the squeaky clean rock it left behind the previous night. I was surprised that lives entirely on one rock structure and doesn’t roam around the tank.

That is why I want to buy another one but warned not to. Still tempted

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Have you located the little guy yet?

 

[Freenow54]

My wife found it pretty happy

 

[Freenow54]

So NOT so Happy. Yes my wife found the urchin it did not move for three days. I put a flashlight on it today and was looking through a hollow shell. What would cause that would say bristle worms attack it? only lasted a week