- Location
- Hudson Yards
I got a Halloween Urchin from liveaquaria.com this weekend thinking I was getting a regular pincushon urchin - just a different color and a better algae eater. The stats said he was reef safe and peaceful. It turns out he's a Halloween Urchin AKA Preist-Hat Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla).
Here he is:
Upon doing some further reading I discovered that some web sites say he'll grow to about 4 inches and he's venemous, particularly to other sea life. Others say he's reef safe and peaceful. I even called LiveAquaria and they said he's fine.
Still, the venemous thing concerns me. I have a Foxface, but I'm not worried about him around my other fish because he'll warn them to back off. The fish know what he means and they will. Not so much with an urchin, they aren't as...um...communicative.
Does anybody have any experience with this animal? Are my concerns justified? Should I be looking for a new home for him?
Here he is:
Upon doing some further reading I discovered that some web sites say he'll grow to about 4 inches and he's venemous, particularly to other sea life. Others say he's reef safe and peaceful. I even called LiveAquaria and they said he's fine.
Still, the venemous thing concerns me. I have a Foxface, but I'm not worried about him around my other fish because he'll warn them to back off. The fish know what he means and they will. Not so much with an urchin, they aren't as...um...communicative.
Does anybody have any experience with this animal? Are my concerns justified? Should I be looking for a new home for him?