Having an issue removing urchin?

nightOwl · #1 01/04/2008, 04:34 PM

I have a bit of a problem. I had some live rock for over 10 months and there was a little black dot on it when I first saw it. The little black dot grew and I finally moved him to my refugium. He disappeared for about a month or two and I started noticing the glass and rocks were being cleaned of corraline algea. I found that my little black dot has now grown to a bit smaller than a ping pong and is starting to knock rock over. So he has to go but he has long spines (1") and they are sharp. He keeps wedging himself in the rockwork and now only comes out when the lights go out. I guess he has learned that being poked and proded is not fun. How do i remove him without hurting myself? I am tempted to kill it but that's mean and I dont want it to release any toxins in my water. I read that getting poked by one of the spines hurts like heck and I dont want to experience that either.

Thanks,

Henry

reefsponge · #2 01/04/2008, 04:44 PM

I just got lucky and found mine on the glass one day, with careful fingers I was able to pry him off without either of us getting injured. They are very difficult to remove if they are wedged. I guess if you had a leather glove with nothing that would foul your water on it, this could be helpful.

ric221 · #3 01/04/2008, 10:36 PM

after you remove it what do you plan on doing with it? if you are not going to keep, it would you consider giving it to me for say shipping cost?

scowiii · #4 01/04/2008, 11:56 PM

I just took some salad tongs that look like spoons and pulled mine out and then put it in a bag and then gave it to my friend who hates the purple coraline on his tank.

demonsp · #5 01/05/2008, 12:17 AM

I used a large bowl and scooped him out. But i waited for whene he was clear, but he came out all the time.
I affored a trade with LFS and he said he would after he sold but without knowing that my LFS water quality was so bad he fell apart in there tank within 4 days. Sign of water quality but yet i got nancybobmitchelled and he said it was an unhealthy urchine. Funny how he grew way to fast in my poor quality tank and died in days in his well groomed tank. Go Figure

hyrumbradshaw · #6 01/05/2008, 12:26 AM

I realize that a home aquarium is a bit different than the ocean, when I went snorkeling in St. Maarten this summer we wrapped shirts aound them and were able to pick them up that way

So my suggestion is wait until its out (night) and grab a hand towel and wrap it around it as to not get poked and remove him that way...

baldomero · #7 01/05/2008, 12:44 AM

yeah be real careful i stepped on one,on a beach in puerto rico and it hurts alot so be careful.

nightOwl · #8 01/05/2008, 01:11 AM

Hi all thaks for all the responses. I will keep you all posted on how this goes. I just checked tonight and he/she did not come out tonight

. Maybe later thanks again for all the tips and advice.

Thanks,

Henry

demonsp · #9 01/05/2008, 01:22 AM

If its small then i would keep it longer. They are really great algea eaters and also clean rock and SB surface. I would think whene it got bigger he would get braver and roam more.

If he is knocking coral over alot then your not securing the frags down. Cant say how many coral ive lost to upsidedownidiotidius. (upside down idiot idius)