Urchin ID

[BLUElobster99]

Any ideas?

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[54seaweed]

looks like a sick tuxedo urchin

[nelix10]

Definitly a sick tuxedo!


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[BLUElobster99]

Anything I can do to make him healthy again?

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[BLUElobster99]

I read somewhere that they can release toxins if they die.. Is this true? Should I remove it?

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[Sniperhank]

Pristine water conditions would help...but that guy looks like he wouldn't take to acclimating to a new tank well or even live much longer. Over half of his spines are gone.

[BLUElobster99]

Correct me if I'm wrong (I just found this online) but isn't this tripneustes gratilla? Otherwise known as the collector urchin

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[BLUElobster99]

Here's a screenshot

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[Sniperhank]

You shouldn't really take much information about the creatures you are trying to keep from a photography website.
This is a tuxedo urchin. Most commonly seen are blue, but there is also a red variety.
Saltwater Aquarium Inverts for Marine Reef Aquariums: Blue Tuxedo Urchin

And like already said:

If it starts to lose a number of spines, it is often due to poor water conditions.

[BLUElobster99]

Is this a better source? I'm not arguing that the urchin is unhealthy. I simply don't believe that this is a Tuxedo urchin. The lfs guy also said that it was collected on Hawaii which would fit the description of tripneustes gratilla.

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[Sniperhank]

In all honesty, without seeing it healthy who knows. I've looked back and forth and couldn't tell you.

[54seaweed]

most likely they told you that to make a few more bucks IMO
I bought a pair of cleaner shrimp as a mated pair from a local shop to find they were 2 males pet shops will tell you about anything

[BLUElobster99]

Regardless of whether it was collected in Hawaii or not, it's still not a Tuxedo. The lfs had it labeled at "blue black Hawaii urchin" so I don't think they knew what it was.

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