what’s going on with my tuxedo urchin?

[Just started reefing]

I don’t think Spike is feeling too good. normally he wanders all over the tank but for the last two days he’s been sitting in one spot with the spikes down.His feelers are still moving are his feelers are still moving very slowly though. if I put anything in the tank his spikes come back up he doesn’t move he just sits there. any idea what’s going on?

 

[DrZoidburg]

Call me crazy check nitrite. Inverts more sensitive to this. Sometimes they do rest though. Could try moving it to a rock.

 

[Just started reefing]

trying to get a video of what he looks like.

 

[Pistondog]

Check all parameters, one is off.
Is the ato ok?

 

[lynaea75]

In my experience spines down like that is a bad sign. Definitely check Params and maybe try moving him to the back wall or a rock with more algae on it.

 

[Wick3d_1]

That's not a Tuxedo, it's a pin cushion urchin. Either way, check your parameters. Urchins are super sensitive to salinity swings and any large swings in stability. Mine never stops moving, it may sit in one spot and eat but it's never the sand bed. If it loses its spikes, getting it back is a very difficult task. They usually die in this state.

 

[Just started reefing]

my Nitrites are .5, same as the last several months.
I did move him from between two rocks to where he is right now and he just hasn't moved. if he is resting he’s taking a very long nap.

 

[DrZoidburg]

last water change?

 

[Wick3d_1]

my Nitrites are .5, same as the last several months.
I did move him from between two rocks to where he is right now and he just hasn't moved. if he is resting he’s taking a very long nap.

That very well could be the issue, if you have nitrites (not nitrates) present. They don't handle ammonia or nitrites well.

 

[lynaea75]

He’s not resting, he’s stressed/dying

 

[Just started reefing]

That's not a Tuxedo, it's a pin cushion urchin. Either way, check your parameters. Urchins are super sensitive to salinity swings and any large swings in stability. Mine never stops moving, it may sit in one spot and eat but it's never the sand bed. If it loses its spikes, getting it back is a very difficult task. They usually die in this state.

he is a Tuxedo. he moves shells to the top of his head. he just doesn’t look like for now because all his spines are down. This is what he normall looks like. (right side of tank on rock)

 

[Just started reefing]

The only thing I’ve done in the last week is raise the salinity levels because it was a little low

 

[Just started reefing]

from .023 to .025

 

[Just started reefing]

last water change?

two weeks ago

 

[lynaea75]

he is a Tuxedo. he moves shells to the top of his head. he just doesn’t look like for now because all his spines are down. This is what he normall looks like. (right side of tank on rock)

Nope, that’s a pincushion.

 

[Pistondog]

from .023 to .025

This is likely the issue. We can just wait and hope. How long to raise the salinity?

 

[Just started reefing]

That very well could be the issue, if you have nitrites (not nitrates) present. They don't handle ammonia or nitrites well.

ok. anything I can do.

 

[Just started reefing]

This is likely the issue. We can just wait and hope. How long to raise the salinity?

one day

 

[Wick3d_1]

Definitely a pin cushion. I have one just like it, only mine is the size of a baseball. If you moved the salinity, that's your culprit more than likely. Salinity changes too quickly can kill them.

 

[Wick3d_1]

It *may* adjust. And that's a huge may be. I wouldn't hold out hope. Once it drops spines, then it's over with in 99% of cases. You could try feeding it and hope for the best. That's all you can do.