Tip of the Day – 8/12/2013

Want to put an urchin into your aquarium? Well, that’s all fine and dandy, but you need to be very aware of the dangers associated with the spiny little lawnmowers. While many urchins are typically a great addition to any reef tank, some can get quite large and dangerous. The black longspine urchins, which is where this tip is mostly directed, grow really big really fast. Their spines are extremely sharp, and they can aim them toward a potential predator, such as your hand. The spines will puncture most aquarium safe gloves, often embedding a tip into your finger or any other unlucky part of your hand or arm. When handling them, be sure to use tongs or some sort of plastic container. And when transporting them, avoid plastic bags if possible, else you’ll have water everywhere and potentially a dried out urchin.