Long Spine Sea Urchin
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11631
Printed Date: December 28 2025 at 5:33am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Long Spine Sea Urchin
Posted By: peiji
Subject: Long Spine Sea Urchin
Date Posted: April 13 2006 at 7:43pm
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I thought I had done plenty of research on urchins that all said they were
reef safe. However, I just recently read that they could be damaging to LPS's because the spines puncture the soft tissue. How likely is that? Does anyone else keep LPS's and sea urchins? Has anyone had problems? ------------- Jared Page Highland, UT Graphic Designer |
Replies:
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: April 13 2006 at 8:18pm
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Mark just got rid of his Long Spine because it was eating too much coraline. I think he has LPS. I don't remember him mentioning them though. -------------  |
Posted By: seti007
Date Posted: April 14 2006 at 12:13am
| I dont think your LPS are in any danger. However, these urchins are like bulldozers and knock lose corals/frags down all the time. They may irritate and cause the corals to close up by touching the corals while moving around in the tank. |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: April 14 2006 at 9:55am
A pincushion bulldozer. That's gonna leave a mark.  ------------- |
Posted By: RTaylor
Date Posted: April 15 2006 at 4:22pm
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I've had a tuxedo and a pincushion and neither ever harmed any LPS. The did knock a few frags down. The pincushion actually got eaten by my carpet anemone. ------------- RT |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: April 15 2006 at 5:07pm
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Ouch ------------- |
RTaylor wrote:
It hurt to even think about it.Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 16 2006 at 12:53pm
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Another myth. The spines are terribly sharp and when a spine sinks into my skin it hurts for days, but think about it. If I were an Urchin with all these appendages used for keeping predators away, what good would it be to get my stiff spines stuck in things which restrict my movement. As I felt the presence of a stationary object at the tip of a spine, I would move my entire body to go around it. This is exactly how Urchins behave. What's cool though, is when they get bumped by something moving at them, they start swaying their spines all around saying, "Here am I. I poke really bad. I can hurt you. Stay away." Hope this helps. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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