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Old 05-26-2007, 11:07 AM   #1
dobejazz
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Hitchhiker Urchin??


I noticed this in the 5.5 g the Thursday night it didn't really move when I poked at it but did move it's spines it stayed in that spot all day Yesterday but this morning it's gone. Is it an urchin? are all urchins algae eaters or are there non reef safe urchins



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Old 05-26-2007, 11:09 AM   #2
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Awesome! I miss my sea urchin.
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Old 05-26-2007, 11:11 AM   #3
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Awesome! I miss my sea urchin.

so it's safe then?
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Old 05-26-2007, 11:13 AM   #4
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I don't know. I just think they are the coolest things. Although they taste awful.
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Old 05-26-2007, 11:14 AM   #5
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I don't know. I just think they are the coolest things. Although they taste awful.

I don't even want to know why you know how they taste
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Old 05-26-2007, 11:16 AM   #6
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I don't even want to know why you know how they taste
Sushi
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Old 05-26-2007, 12:31 PM   #7
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I'm pretty sure from your pics that it is a free Urchin! They taste terrible but will usually dine on your coraline and other algae.
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Old 05-27-2007, 09:58 PM   #8
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Cool hitchhiker.
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Old 05-27-2007, 10:17 PM   #9
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Kelli. When diving in Guam these were all over. As they eat they eat into the rock and eventually can never get out of the grooves that they make themselves. Most urchins are algea eaters. Some really like the coraline, but they are real messy eaters and they normally eat 1/4 of what they chew off the rocks. When i had mine in Guam.. I could see noticable tracks in the coraline but after a week... lots of pink and purple in places that I hadn't had it.. it helped my tank by free floating the coraline... IME...I think you got a good free creature..
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Old 05-28-2007, 12:07 AM   #10
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Cool Thanks Every one !! I hope I get to see him more often I haven't seen him since I posted
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Old 05-28-2007, 01:48 PM   #11
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o you cant miss my urchin those dang long spine urchins get HUGE
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Old 06-04-2007, 03:35 AM   #12
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You are one lucky reefer!
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Old 06-04-2007, 04:30 AM   #13
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I got the same urchin as a hitchhiker. They usually come out at night, so during the daytime you don't see them often. He is 100% sure reef-safe.

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Old 06-05-2007, 01:08 AM   #14
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Probably Echinometra mathaei or Echinometra oblonga, most likely E. mathaei, rock boring urchins/ They are totally reef safe, and will help control hair algae in the tank and improve coralline coverage with time. Google the above individuals for some pix.

HTH
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Old 06-05-2007, 08:01 AM   #15
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Quote:
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I got the same urchin as a hitchhiker. They usually come out at night, so during the daytime you don't see them often. He is 100% sure reef-safe.

Leonardo
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdwyatt View Post
Probably Echinometra mathaei or Echinometra oblonga, most likely E. mathaei, rock boring urchins/ They are totally reef safe, and will help control hair algae in the tank and improve coralline coverage with time. Google the above individuals for some pix.

HTH

Thanks Guys

After I posted this I didn't see him again until yesterday but he ended up in the same nook I took his pic in
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