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01/20/2010, 02:44 PM | #1 |
Liscensed Unit
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hudson,Florida
Posts: 2,948
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Found a strange looking urchin today.
I was putting all my livestock into my 180 from their temporary stock tank. And I found this urchin. Just trying to find out if anybody knows what kind it is and if it is reef safe. It's a fast and lively little bugger. The back is black and rubbery feeling. I thought it was a sponge at first.
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Tankless at the moment...but still knows a thing or two. |
01/20/2010, 02:56 PM | #2 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,178
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That's no urchin, poor thing! It's the central disk of a brittle star with all the legs missing. the mouth & body seem intact so as long as it can feed & is sheltered from predators it should survive. If the legs were eaten off rather than missing as a result of stress or disease the urchin can regrow them in time. If it is disease or some kind of stress it may be doomed.
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Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County |
01/20/2010, 03:02 PM | #3 |
Liscensed Unit
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hudson,Florida
Posts: 2,948
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OMG....I did have a large brittle in there. He must have stressed being in the tub.
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Tankless at the moment...but still knows a thing or two. |
01/25/2010, 08:39 AM | #4 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 51
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Any update here? How's that poor star doing?
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