Pincushion urchin taking my Feather Duster on a rollercoaster ride

[Gill Passman]

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

[KurtG]

Gill Passman wrote:
> 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

[Tristan]

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.....

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:28:42 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:

<<>>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!

[Gill Passman]

Tristan wrote:
> 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

[Yukon]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message ...
> Tristan wrote:
>> 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 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.

[Gill Passman]

Yukon wrote:

>
> 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

[Wayne Sallee]

Here's a picture for you :-)

http://www.waynesallee.com/SeaUrchinWeightLifting.jpg

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Yukon wrote on 2/23/2007 6:10 PM:
> "Gill Passman" > wrote in message ...
>> Tristan wrote:
>>> 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 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.
>
>

[Yukon]

"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message nk.net...
> Here's a picture for you :-)
>
> http://www.waynesallee.com/SeaUrchinWeightLifting.jpg
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
> Yukon wrote on 2/23/2007 6:10 PM:
>> "Gill Passman" > wrote in message ...
>>> Tristan wrote:
>>>> 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 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.

LOL! The urchin olympics!

[Yukon]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message ...
> Yukon wrote:
>
>>
>> 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

Nah, it's good for him. Let him see the world. :D

[Pszemol]

"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message nk.net...
> Here's a picture for you :-)
>
> http://www.waynesallee.com/SeaUrchinWeightLifting.jpg

Live urchin carying skeleton of dead tankmate... kind of macabre.

[Pszemol]

"Yukon" > wrote in message ...
> 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 ?

[Wayne Sallee]

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


Pszemol wrote on 2/25/2007 12:35 PM:
> "Yukon" > wrote in message
> ...
>> 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 ?

[Pszemol]

"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message k.net...
> 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

[Wayne Sallee]

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


Pszemol wrote on 2/25/2007 2:09 PM:
> "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
> k.net...
>> 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

[Yukon]

"Pszemol" > wrote in message ...
> "Yukon" > wrote in message ...
>> 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 ?

All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds), and wire insulation.

[Pszemol]

"Yukon" > wrote in message ...
> All my pincushions have ever done is strip algae (all kinds),
> and wire insulation.

Wire insulation??? That sounds scarry...
What devices they chew on?

[Add Homonym]

Pszemol wrote:
> "Yukon" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> 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.

[Yukon]

"Pszemol" > wrote in message ...
> "Yukon" > wrote in message ...
>> 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.

[Yukon]

"Add Homonym" > wrote in message ...
> Pszemol wrote:
>> "Yukon" > wrote in message ...
>>
>>> 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.

LOL! Yep - just bring some along in a jar.

[Add Homonym]

Yukon wrote:
> "Add Homonym" > wrote in message ...
>
>>Pszemol wrote:
>>
>>>"Yukon" > wrote in message ...
>>>
>>>
>>>>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.
>
>
> 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.

[atomweaver]

Add Homonym > wrote in
:

> Yukon wrote:
>> "Add Homonym" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>>Pszemol wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Yukon" > wrote in message
...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>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.
>>
>>
>> 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.
>

Be sure to write off all tank-related expenses as "business related" on
your taxes ;-)

DZ
AW

[Yukon]

"Add Homonym" > wrote in message ...
> Yukon wrote:
>> "Add Homonym" > wrote in message ...
>>
>>>Pszemol wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Yukon" > wrote in message ...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>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.
>>
>>
>> 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.

Good idea! Anything to expose the hobby to new people!