Urchin Infestation...What to do???

[WhiteCloud]

When I got my Live Rock 4 months ago...I noticed a few very small, black, urchin like creatures...they were smaller than a pea. You could hardly tell the were alive a moving.

That was then....THIS IS NOW:

Now I have 10 HUGE black urchins in my tank. Their bodies are about 3/4 of an inch in diameter, then with spines...they are 1.5-2 inches in size. They strip any and all Coraline algae that I get to grow...they are plowing into corals...and in general becoming a nuisance.

I am not one for "flushing" or otherwise ending the life of any occupants in the tank (except for a 6 inch Bobbit worm...as I had no choice) that are not adversely affecting the occupants of the aquarium. So...does anyone have any idea what I can do with these guys??? Are they a food source that anyone could use them for (hence continuing the circle of life and not just killing)??


Thanks for any advice!

WC

 

[Flsprophet2]

Sell Them To LFS 8)

 

[ClamKnuckle]

see if anyone you know wants them, maybe you can make a trade, and if not then, like Flsprophet2 said, see what you can get for them at the lfs

 

[Ximat]

I had three that were 3.5" point to point. I took them back to the LFS sold them to them for 2 bucks a piece. They're selling them for 9 bucks a piece.

 

[mybug]

black long spine urchins

I've got one that is getting huge also and leaving a white trail on my pink coraline algae wherever he goes,

I may end up doing the same, I've been holding off as it is a neat creature but may have to, was hoping my coraline to keep up with him

 

[Phyl]

Bag one up and send it to me! LOL! Oh no! That won't work! Try your local reefer club. I'm sure there will be a local refer who'll take one or two. Beats getting 2$ for it at the LFS, IMO!

 

[quarryshark]

Follow the suggestions above and also try and target feed them some nori a couple times a week. I do that with mine and have no coraline problems (I have 4 in my system X 20 months).
One small nori strip will keep them busy all day.
Besides, the coraline they eat will just be pooped out and much of it can reseed.