can urchins get parasites, because i have a long spine urchin in my reef tank and it has little white "bugs" scooting along its spines. Is this normal? Is it harmful? i really dont want my urchin to be hurting or die. Does anyone know anything about this, or any expirience.
Urchin parasites?
- Thread starter AlwaysConfused
- Start date
I'm sure urchins can get parasites, but it sounds more like small copepods or isopods just taking shelter and finding morsels of food among the spines. Is it looking OK otherwise?
Speaking of small critters that look like insects , I have tons of this little guys at the bottom of the tank , you can see them running all over the crushed coral and on top of anything thats on the bottom like urchins , live rock , star fish , are these guys bad for a tank ? I didnt use to have these I dont think , then again it was a while since I last just stared at the tank .
Pods are not bad, for the most part.
Urchins actually can be host to a number of hitch hikers. Many micro stars hide out in the spines for protection, as well as the pods you're seeing. Technically, it's a commensalistic relationship--one party benefits, the other neither benefits nor is harmed by the interaction.
Urchins actually can be host to a number of hitch hikers. Many micro stars hide out in the spines for protection, as well as the pods you're seeing. Technically, it's a commensalistic relationship--one party benefits, the other neither benefits nor is harmed by the interaction.
Awesome, then im not scared about that anymore. But on a long spine urchin you know how they have that irridesent orange eye looking thing? well is that also thier anus? because i have been seeing small white balls seemingly explode out of it and then he is fine afterwords. He is eating seaweed selects just fine, and i gave him a little bit of shrimp. Is he supposed to be doing this?
