sea urchins

floatingfish · 02-18-2007, 08:18 PM

i have some knowledge about sea urchins and how the can reproduce very fast in the wild, but is it possible to breed them in captivity.

harif87 · 02-19-2007, 12:12 AM

From what i know about urchins, its virtually impossible to vuisually distinguish between male and female urchins thus making it highly unlikely to breed them in captive. BTW if you plan on keeping them in your main DT say goodbye to your coraline algae...

**TheOldSalt** · 02-19-2007, 06:59 AM

Actually, it's simplicity itself.

Proper manipulation of the moonlighting and temperature will make them spawn, or if you want instant results, just inject them, in the soft spot around their mouths, with a KCL solution. They'll spawn like crazy within hours, or even minutes if they're already ripe. It's a common lab procedure, since urchin larvae are very useful in bioassay testing. ( for toxicity in a system, for example )

**Damon** · 02-19-2007, 08:11 AM

They dont make much of a dent in coralline algae. Mine has never phased it at all even though he's always eating on it.

floatingfish · 02-19-2007, 03:50 PM

i guess they would need to be gradually put in a longer night period and lower temps. i can probably handle that.

flamingo · 02-19-2007, 04:00 PM

My parents urchin eats everything- good and bad. Rocks start looking good, and it wipes everything out on them.

I've heard urchins being bred in labs, and I guess you could do it in an aquarium... good luck with raising the larvae though.

**TheOldSalt** · 02-20-2007, 08:40 PM

Again, not all that hard to do. If you have an ecosystem-type setup which is plankton-friendly, then you'll have urchins galore if you're not careful.

flamingo · 02-21-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

Again, not all that hard to do. If you have an ecosystem-type setup which is plankton-friendly, then you'll have urchins galore if you're not careful.

Really? Didn't know they were that easy to grow. Sigh, I don't see the need in getting more though... one is usually more than enough for any tank

.

02-18-2007, 08:18 PM	#1
floatingfish Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Age: 23 Posts: 5	sea urchins i have some knowledge about sea urchins and how the can reproduce very fast in the wild, but is it possible to breed them in captivity.

02-19-2007, 12:12 AM	#2
harif87 Minor Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Age: 21 Posts: 990	From what i know about urchins, its virtually impossible to vuisually distinguish between male and female urchins thus making it highly unlikely to breed them in captive. BTW if you plan on keeping them in your main DT say goodbye to your coraline algae... __________________ sorry for beating you senseless "The human torch was denied a bank loan"

02-19-2007, 08:11 AM	#4
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	They dont make much of a dent in coralline algae. Mine has never phased it at all even though he's always eating on it. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

02-19-2007, 04:00 PM	#6
flamingo One Word: Croutons. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 17 Posts: 1,897	My parents urchin eats everything- good and bad. Rocks start looking good, and it wipes everything out on them. I've heard urchins being bred in labs, and I guess you could do it in an aquarium... good luck with raising the larvae though. __________________ If you put "u" instead of typing out the actual, shocking, three letter word... i'm not going to read your ramblings. I'm so behind it's not even funny.

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02-19-2007, 06:59 AM	#3
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,250	Actually, it's simplicity itself. Proper manipulation of the moonlighting and temperature will make them spawn, or if you want instant results, just inject them, in the soft spot around their mouths, with a KCL solution. They'll spawn like crazy within hours, or even minutes if they're already ripe. It's a common lab procedure, since urchin larvae are very useful in bioassay testing. ( for toxicity in a system, for example )

02-19-2007, 03:50 PM	#5
floatingfish Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Age: 23 Posts: 5	i guess they would need to be gradually put in a longer night period and lower temps. i can probably handle that.

02-20-2007, 08:40 PM	#7
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,250	Again, not all that hard to do. If you have an ecosystem-type setup which is plankton-friendly, then you'll have urchins galore if you're not careful.

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