Sea Urchins
One of the wonders of having a saltwater aquarium is the ability to simulate the same conditions as the ocean. This includes keeping sea urchins in a marine tank, among other things. One of the best that you can have is called the Diadema setosum. This is known as the Hatpin Urchin and this is a common sight in many aquariums for invertebrates.
The wonderful thing about this animal is that it possesses a very hard skeleton. The skeleton is called “test” which came from the Latin word “testa” which means shell or tile. Urchins have their anuses upward and their dirt or waste is ammonia. This ammonia is expelled through their gills. If you think these creatures do not move, you are mistaken. Some species can actually move. Do not be surprised if one of your urchins seems to be out of place when you wake up. These animals have something that is close to a foot.
In terms of size, these things can grow up to four inches not in terms of height but in terms of diameter. You will observe that the pines may be even longer, about a foot in length, but these are not included in the measurement of the urchin’s size. These animals are also nocturnal in nature. This means they are active at night. They hunt and eat at night and it is not a wonder that you rarely see them in the morning. Urchins are very friendly and they will not hurt other fish or anything else in the tank, unless, of course, when provoked. With a sea urchin your other marine fish and aquatic pets are safe.
If you are working with marine or tropical fish or are a keen fish keeper and want to blog for this site, contact us here.
Perry’s Aquatic Centre – The Bungalow, 6 Market Rasen Road, Dunholme, Lincoln LN2 3QR
Tel: 016738 607 27
Introducing Sea Urchin to your Marine Aquarium
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