Feeding an Urchin?

[Oscar]

When I stated my tank just over a year ago I inherited an urchin with my live rock. A few months later I noticed a baby urchin the size of a dime of the same species.

Both of these guys a pretty good algae grazers. But now that my algae is under control they ae running out of food. They are getting more aggressive by moving rocks and knocking corals off of their perches.

I tried feeding nori attached to a rock. The hermits and snails loved it but it turned to mush very quickly. Are the commercial algae sheets more substantial than nori?

[Leah]

Oscar, the algae sheets break down as well. But don't urchins eat coraline algae.

[banditpowdercoat]

Ya, Urchin's eat Coraline

[fishytime]

Not just coraline... http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest.../algaepage.html . Very good link.

[don.ald]

what type of urchin? i keep urchins and they will eat nori if they are hungry. if they ignore it usually means there is enough of other available. some urchins munch on the coraline where you can see it missing and others don"t.

[Oscar]

Not just coraline... http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest.../algaepage.htm . Very good link.

link is broken

[Oscar]

Yes these guys eat coraline as well as other algae. Perhaps I should start dosing purple up again?

I will also try some nori in a different corner of the tank where they are more likely to get to it.

I am not impressed with their recent aquascaping and knocking my frags off of their perches.

[fishytime]

link is broken

Odd??? the link still works in the post I copied it from. we'll try it this way then... Second post.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=51564

[banditpowdercoat]

Fishytime, you copied the link form the post. The VB shortens links with the ... in the middle. You need to acctually click on it, then copy from where it takes you

http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/algaepage.htm

[Oscar]

http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/algaepage.htm

Great link, thanks Fishytime.

[fishytime]

Fishytime, you copied the link form the post. The VB shortens links with the ... in the middle. You need to acctually click on it, then copy from where it takes you

http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/algaepage.htm

ooops my bad:redface:....my forte is fish ....not computers:mrgreen:

[banditpowdercoat]

LOL, if it wasnt for computers, I wouldnt have Fish.

[jsmth321]

I've got a pin cushion of some type and I feed it 1/2 sheet of nori each week, sometimes it takes it, sometimes it doesn't as he eats coralline as well.

[Oscar]

I've got a pin cushion of some type and I feed it 1/2 sheet of nori each week, sometimes it takes it, sometimes it doesn't as he eats coralline as well.

What is your feeding technique? Do you attach the nori to a rock or a clip?

[jsmth321]

What is your feeding technique? Do you attach the nori to a rock or a clip?

I use a rubber band and just attach it to a small piece of live rock right before lights out.

Over the night it eats it and sometimes uses it as clothing.

[Oscar]

I use a rubber band and just attach it to a small piece of live rock right before lights out.

Over the night it eats it and sometimes uses it as clothing.

I will give that a try this evening.

[JDigital]

ooops my bad:redface:....my forte is fish ....not computers:mrgreen:

You been watching too many Kia adverts... :lol:

[Delphinus]

I hang a nori "stick" on a fishing line so it's off the ground and just dangles against the glass. It's for the tang and rabbitfish but my 2 urchins find it at night and polish it off (diadema, and green tuxedo urchins). Also my diadema is surprisingly adept at catching spiruline (both pellets and flakes), just shoot some at him with a turkey baster and he has these tentacles that catch them. It's really cool and freaky to watch. :) HTH