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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Marine Reef / February 2007Pincushion urchin taking my Feather Duster on a rollercoaster ride
One of my pincushion urchins got my Feather Duster stuck onto its spines yesterday. The feather duster didn't seem too put out to start with and was extended for most of his trip around the tank - eventually he retracted for a bit longer than normal so I "rescued" him and repositioned him in the tank, away from his original position and far away from the Urchin. This morning, I noticed that the Urchin had found the Feather Duster, and the FD is now firmly on the spines of the Urchin and off on a trip again. He is, like yesterday, extended with feathers swirling around as normal. So my question is whether these trips on the back of the Urchin are going to harm or damage my FD? Should I keep unattaching him or should I just leave well alone? TIA Gill > This morning, I noticed that the Urchin had found the Feather Duster, > and the FD is now firmly on the spines of the Urchin and off on a trip > again. He is, like yesterday, extended with feathers swirling around as > normal. Hi Gill, I have no idea. But, it's hilarious. Thanks for a chuckle over my morning tea. --Kurt I think I would super glue the urchin in one spot in the tank! ;-) I just can't see how getting stuck on the urchin will do the FD much good......I don't think the urchin is going to have much regard for whatever it drags around the tank, so the FD just may wind up getting damaged..... <<>>One of my pincushion urchins got my Feather Duster stuck onto its spines <<>>yesterday. The feather duster didn't seem too put out to start with and <<>>was extended for most of his trip around the tank - eventually he <<>>retracted for a bit longer than normal so I "rescued" him and <<>>repositioned him in the tank, away from his original position and far <<>>away from the Urchin. <<>> <<>>This morning, I noticed that the Urchin had found the Feather Duster, <<>>and the FD is now firmly on the spines of the Urchin and off on a trip <<>>again. He is, like yesterday, extended with feathers swirling around as <<>>normal. <<>> <<>>So my question is whether these trips on the back of the Urchin are <<>>going to harm or damage my FD? Should I keep unattaching him or should I <<>> just leave well alone? <<>> <<>>TIA <<>>Gill ------- I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know! > I think I would super glue the urchin in one spot in the tank! ;-) ROFLOL..... Well, the Pincushion has dropped the FD whose tube is completely clean of any algae, and is now taking a hermit crab for a joy-ride :-) Gill >> I think I would super glue the urchin in one spot in the tank! ;-) > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Gill I had a pincushion drag around a snail shell with a mushroom on it for months. I also have had them strip insulation right off the wire of a powerhead and fry a tank. It was only a 10 gallon tank, but it could've happened in any tank. I still have urchins in all my tanks, but I keep an eye on 'em. > I had a pincushion drag around a snail shell with > a mushroom on it for months. I also have had them > strip insulation right off the wire of a powerhead and > fry a tank. It was only a 10 gallon tank, but it could've > happened in any tank. I still have urchins in all my tanks, but > I keep an eye on 'em. I have two pincushions in the tank....don't know if it is a size or species issue.....the pink one (that is double the size of the other one) is the culprit.....I've now adopted the policy of rescuing the FD when he gets taken for a ride.....the other one is purple and smaller (but this could be an age thing) - but the purple one never, ever gets the crud stuck to it in the same way as the pink one does..... I must admit that I do like them....and they do an awesome job on algae control.....although I understand that there can be issues once the algae has all gone....... I like the idea of just keeping an eye on them.....not sure the FD appreciates those hours when I'm out of the house and he gets taken for his trips.... Gill >> I had a pincushion drag around a snail shell with >> a mushroom on it for months. I also have had them [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Gill Nah, it's good for him. Let him see the world. :D Here's a picture for you :-) http://www.waynesallee.com/SeaUrchinWeightLifting.jpg Wayne Sallee Wayne's Pets Wayne@WaynesPets.com Yukon wrote on 2/23/2007 6:10 PM: >>> I think I would super glue the urchin in one spot in the tank! ;-) >> ROFLOL..... [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > happened in any tank. I still have urchins in all my tanks, but > I keep an eye on 'em. > Here's a picture for you :-) > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >> happened in any tank. I still have urchins in all my tanks, but >> I keep an eye on 'em. LOL! The urchin olympics! > Here's a picture for you :-) > > http://www.waynesallee.com/SeaUrchinWeightLifting.jpg Live urchin carying skeleton of dead tankmate... kind of macabre. > I had a pincushion drag around a snail shell with > a mushroom on it for months. I also have had them > strip insulation right off the wire of a powerhead and > fry a tank. It was only a 10 gallon tank, but it could've > happened in any tank. I still have urchins in all my tanks, > but I keep an eye on 'em. Dont you have problems with pincusion urchins drilling into the rocks? I have read somewhere that the only reef-safe urchin is blue tuxedo urchin (Mespilia globulus) but other urchins is like all bets are off... How one can recognise rock drilling urchin from a reef-safe algae eater ? I would not count on any urchin not eating rock, though some eat it more than others. Live rock + urchin = Live sand :-) Wayne Sallee Wayne's Pets Wayne@WaynesPets.com Pszemol wrote on 2/25/2007 12:35 PM: >> I had a pincushion drag around a snail shell with >> a mushroom on it for months. I also have had them [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > How one can recognise rock drilling urchin from > a reef-safe algae eater ? > I would not count on any urchin not eating rock, > though some eat it more than others. Live rock + > urchin = Live sand :-) I had maybe 3 tuxedo urchins over the years and have not noticed them eating rocks... They eat sometimes surface layers of coraline algae, but not rocks. I was talking about rock boring urchins as they literaly bore a hole in the rock for themselves and sit in the hole they made grazing on the algae on the hole surface. This is their way of avoiding predation: they are protected with rock. Check this out: http://www.jal-foundation.or.jp/html/coral/lesson4.htm Notice that the article says it takes 15 to 20 years to dig that size hole. How long it takes depends on a lot of factors. Pencil urchins do the most digging. Wayne Sallee Wayne's Pets Wayne@WaynesPets.com Pszemol wrote on 2/25/2007 2:09 PM: >> I would not count on any urchin not eating rock, though some eat it >> more than others. Live rock + urchin = Live sand :-) [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Check this out: http://www.jal-foundation.or.jp/html/coral/lesson4.htm >> I had a pincushion drag around a snail shell with >> a mushroom on it for months. I also have had them [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > How one can recognise rock drilling urchin from > a reef-safe algae eater ? All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds), and wire insulation. > All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds), > and wire insulation. Wire insulation??? That sounds scarry... What devices they chew on? >> All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds), >> and wire insulation. > > Wire insulation??? That sounds scarry... Really? I happen to do cat 5 cabling installs at $dayjob from time to time. I'm wondering if these urchins could be trained to stip 2 inches of the jacket off of a plenum cat 5 cable. Save me some time. Amd I don't have to pay them. >>> All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds), >>> and wire insulation. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Really? I happen to do cat 5 cabling installs at $dayjob from time to time. I'm wondering if these urchins could be trained to > stip 2 inches of the jacket off of a plenum cat 5 cable. Save me some time. Amd I don't have to pay them. LOL! Yep - just bring some along in a jar. >>>>All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds), >>>>and wire insulation. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > LOL! Yep - just bring some along in a jar. Dunno if the jar will have enough water volume to keep temp, PH, etc stable long enough. I'm gonna try a 55gal AGA on a wheeled cart. >>>>>All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds), >>>>>and wire insulation. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > I'm gonna try a 55gal AGA on a wheeled cart. Be sure to write off all tank-related expenses as "business related" on your taxes ;-) DZ AW >>>>>All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds), >>>>>and wire insulation. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > I'm gonna try a 55gal AGA on a wheeled cart. Good idea! Anything to expose the hobby to new people! >> All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds), >> and wire insulation. > > Wire insulation??? That sounds scarry... > What devices they chew on? I've had pincushions in all my tanks for over 15 years, and it only happened once. The urchin stripped a small spot on a heater cord down to the bare wire and fried itself and a dwarf lionfish in a 30 gal tank. It was a new heater too. So I always check my powerhead wires too. |
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