Description
The Ultimate Hair Algae Destroyer
When it comes to eradicating stubborn nuisance algae, few members of the cleanup crew can compete with the raw power and efficiency of the Pincushion Sea Urchin. This classic, round-bodied urchin is a voracious herbivore, relentlessly mowing down filamentous hair algae, film algae, and other growths from your rockwork and glass. It is a true 24/7 cleaning machine, making it one of the most effective natural solutions for achieving a pristine, algae-free aquarium.
Beyond its incredible utility, the Pincushion Urchin is a creature of fascinating character. It famously exhibits a behavior known as "covering," where it picks up small shells, bits of rubble, or even macroalgae and carries them on its back like a hat. This endearing behavior, thought to be for camouflage or protection, adds a delightful touch of personality to this algae-busting powerhouse.
Why the Pincushion Urchin is a Cleanup Crew Essential:
- Voracious Hair Algae Eater: Considered one of the best and most thorough grazers of nuisance hair algae in the hobby.
- Cleans All Surfaces: It will tirelessly clean live rock, back panels, and glass, leaving a visible path of cleanliness wherever it goes.
- Charming "Covering" Behavior: Endlessly entertaining to watch as it collects and wears "hats" from its environment.
- Extremely Hardy: A robust and adaptable echinoderm that is easy to care for in a stable marine aquarium.
Care & Specifications
The Pincushion Urchin is hardy, but its powerful grazing nature requires some important considerations to ensure it is a benefit, not a detriment, to your specific aquarium.
Important Considerations for Your Aquarium:
- Bulldozer Effect: This is a strong and clumsy animal. It will knock over any unsecured coral frags, small colonies, or unstable rockwork. All corals must be securely glued down.
- Coralline Algae: Its powerful grazing mouth will consume desirable coralline algae just as readily as nuisance algae. Be aware that it will clear purple/pink algae from your rocks.
- ACRYLIC TANK WARNING: Not recommended for acrylic or other soft-surfaced aquariums. Its teeth can, and likely will, leave permanent scratches on the viewing panels.
Tank Requirements:
- Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons or larger.
- System Maturity: Must be introduced into a fully cycled, mature aquarium with a steady supply of algae to graze on.
- Aquascape: Requires sturdy, established live rock. Ensure rockwork is stable and provides some crevices for the urchin to retreat to.
Feeding:
- Diet: Herbivore.
- Primary Foods: It will sustain itself on the naturally occurring algae in your tank. A well-fed urchin is a happy urchin.
- Supplemental Feeding: In very clean tanks or if all nuisance algae has been consumed, its diet must be supplemented with dried seaweed (nori) placed on a veggie clip or under a rock. A hungry urchin may be tempted to sample corals.
Water Parameters:
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Temperature: 72−78°F (22−25.5°C)
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Specific Gravity: 1.023−1.025
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pH: 8.1−8.4
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Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate: As close to 0 ppm as possible.
Compatibility:
- Temperament: Peaceful.
- Reef Safe: With Caution. It will not intentionally predate healthy corals but is a significant physical threat to unsecured frags. A starved urchin may opportunistically nibble on some corals.
- Tank Mates: Avoid housing with large Triggerfish, Pufferfish, Sheepshead, or other known echinoderm predators.
Acclimation: IMPORTANT: Urchins are extremely sensitive to even minor changes in water parameters, particularly salinity. Slow drip acclimation over a period of at least 60-90 minutes is absolutely mandatory for their survival.
