Collecting from rock pools

[Drew]

Hi Guys,

I was out in the rocks today and i found an indo-pacific pencil urchin, after researching see i can't put it in my tank as it will eat the corals, so i have it in my quarantine tank.

any idea of the lighting requirements etc for this creature? or what I should feed it?

[accurist85]

Make sure you do quarantine them... coz i've done once and white spot started next day... Quarantine it for long as you can probably do make 2 to 3 water changes in month... which will safe guard your exisiting fish.

Lighting is not a high requirement for the Urchins, You may be feed them Dried Sea Weed from the Japanese grocery, wakame! Or some thawed cockles... But i'm sure the urchins love sea weed! many countries kill them because they are pest to sea weed farms!

[Drew]

I have gone back to same beach and put some rock and sea weed from the same rock pools into the quarantine tank (about 60 Litres) and all that is in it is the urchin and some snails, I don't think ill be moving it to my main tank as it eats corals.

[accurist85]

I have gone back to same beach and put some rock and sea weed from the same rock pools into the quarantine tank (about 60 Litres) and all that is in it is the urchin and some snails, I don't think ill be moving it to my main tank as it eats corals.


Oh yeah, some tropical urchins do graze on corals...

Just make sure your collecting them from Non marine park area... which some coasts are protected! ;)

Enjoy!