Found a strange looking urchin today.

GrouperGenius · 01/20/2010, 02:44 PM

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.

LeslieH · 01/20/2010, 02:56 PM

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.

GrouperGenius · 01/20/2010, 03:02 PM

OMG....I did have a large brittle in there. He must have stressed being in the tub.

grammatron · 01/25/2010, 08:39 AM

Any update here? How's that poor star doing?

01/20/2010, 02:44 PM	#1
GrouperGenius Liscensed Unit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hudson,Florida Posts: 2,948	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. __________________ Tankless at the moment...but still knows a thing or two.

01/20/2010, 02:56 PM	#2
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	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. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

01/20/2010, 03:02 PM	#3
GrouperGenius Liscensed Unit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hudson,Florida Posts: 2,948	OMG....I did have a large brittle in there. He must have stressed being in the tub. __________________ Tankless at the moment...but still knows a thing or two.

01/25/2010, 08:39 AM	#4
grammatron Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 51	Any update here? How's that poor star doing?