tuxedo urchin

how much algae is needed to support a tuxedo urchin, and what kind do they like most? I don't want to get one and have it starve

 

If ypou do get one buy some nori and attach it to the rocks when your tank algae is low.

 

I need to get my water conditions perfect first..whats nori? I have never heard of it, would a seaweed supplement do for him too if It was low?

 

Nori is seaweed. If you have any other fish that like it I recommend julian springs. My yellow tang wont touch any other haha.

 

ah okay I think I can manage that I have some bushy algae, and I could get him some seaweed if its low in the tank I really like the way they look..

 

I also have one - it will eat almost any algae including coralline algae - I have had mine since Nov 1st and has grown. They are also called collector urchins - they will grab things and carry them around (including small corals)
I love my guy (velcro) but not sure I would get him if I had to do it all over again - he did take care of the algae early on tho.

 

haha I love how they decorate themselves with stuff, it is just like velcro lol. I'll read up a bit more about them, why would you not do it all over again?

 

B/C they clean the rock completely to the bare rock (red to white) so if you like the pink,red and green color on the rocks you might want to stay away - for me it's not that big of a deal since the coriline algae grows back and does not effect the health of the aquarium. Just letting you know from experience. I do like him, one time he picked up a shell and it looked like he was wearing a hat - very cool and the royal purple with copper spikes are nice too

 

I don't have much algae on my rocks anyways... I'll get some for him, if I decide to go through with it. Hopfully it will help my back wall it has some algae on it.. I want it gone!

 

I second what Tank said. I had a friend drop one in my tank as a gift early on. It ate a ton of coraline off the rocks. It was constantly knocking stuff over as well. It died about 2 months ago. Have no idea why. He was amusing though. He had shells, GHA, starfish, etc attached to him at all times. I would clean him off every now and again but within a day he had crap right back all over him.