AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

You are here: Home / Captive Bred Fish & Inverts / Pincushion Urchin
pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

Pincushion Urchin

  • LIVE SEED AND FEED - EXPRESS
  • Shipping Days
    Mon, Tue, Wed
  • Free 2 Days
    Transport at $99+

$29 – $99

Pincushion Urchins are captive bred, completely reef safe, and will consume many types of unwanted algae on the rocks. See below for more information.

Select Size

Earn up to 99 PodPoints.

Total:

$0

Saved

-

Benefits

Clear Algae From Tank

Pincushion Urchins are known by Reef Aquarists for their fast pace and super-sized appetites. They are great for clearing algal film off of tank walls, rocks, and consuming diatoms.

Low Maintenance

Pincushion Urchins, unlike many other aquarium inverts, are able to right themselves if they fall, which minimizes the risk of attack by other animals - this trait also reduces the need to manually turn over fallen inverts.

Clean Up Crew

Our Pincushion Urchins are Captive-Bred and Sustainable omivores that eat a variety of foods ranging form detritus to hair algae. They rapidly move through the tank, clearing all waste in their path.

Description

Pincushion Urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) Captive Bred ORA™

The Pincushion Urchin makes an excellent algae eater best known for its tendency to consume unwanted “hair” algae in aquariums as well as fish waste and leftover fish food. These hardy Captive Bred Urchins will also consume other types of unwanted algae found on live rock. They are completely reef safe making them an excellent member of any clean up crew.

Size and Care Requirements

Purchase Size: 0.5″-2″ (diameter)
Max Size: 8″
Water Parameters: 72-78° F, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025 ppt, dKH 8-12
Color: White with brown spines
Reef Safe: Yes
Diet: Herbivore, Omnivore. Pincushion Urchins do not require supplemental feeding when housed in a saltwater aquarium with some nuisance algae and leftover fish food present. As scavengers, these urchins will scour the live rock in your reef aquarium searching for algae or uneaten fish food or fish waste. However, if no algae, fish food, or fish waste is present the pincushion urchin can be fed green algae wafters.

Pincushion Urchin Species Information

The Lytechinus variegatus urchin comes from the Western Atlantic Ocean and prefers seagrass meadows and other soft-bottom habitats. Totally reef-safe and fond of consuming unsightly hair algae, it has long been a favorite sea urchin among marine aquarium enthusiasts. It is also important to note that these hardy individuals represent some of the first captive-raised specimens to become available to hobbyists. In addition to being a sustainable alternative to wild caught urchins, they also make a great addition to any clean up crew that will help control and eliminate nuisance algae.

100% Alive On Arrival (AOA) Guarantee for Captive Bred Urchins

We guarantee that every urchin we sell will be Alive On Arrival and in good health. Should they arrive in any other state, we will either replace them free of charge (including shipping). If the total livestock loss is less than $20, we will issue store credit. For more information, please also visit our 100% Alive On Arrival Guarantee page.

Ocean, Reefs, and Aquariums™ (ORA™) is a world leader in marine aquaculture. In addition to captive bred fish, they also produce many species of captive bred marine invertebrates. If you would like more information about how captive bred snails are bred and raised in captivity, please visit their website.

FAQ

Weight 1 lbs
Dimensions 3 × 3 × 5 in
Size

Single, 2-Pack, 3-Pack, 4-Pack

Customer Reviews

Based on 21 reviews
76%
(16)
0%
(0)
5%
(1)
0%
(0)
19%
(4)
100.0
100.0
J
James Cardwell
Excellent

Arrived healthy and is thriving in the tank weeks after arrival.

P
Patrick
The Ones That Survive Are Good

Bought 4, one arrived DOA. Thankfully it didn't kill the other in the same jar.

Hi there! Thank you for leaving a review for our pincushionUrchins. We are very sorry that one didn't survive the trip.If you will please reach out to our support team so they can assist you according to our alive on arrival policy. Thank you for your support!

L
Larry Thompson
Healthy and Thriving Pincushion Urchin

Healthy and Thriving Pincushion Urchin doing well. Comes out at night and cleans the rocks like a vacuum.

R
Roderick Emerson

Pincushion Urchin

B
Bart Meadowcroft

Pincushion Urchin

123

Latest News from the AlgaeLab

Our team is hard at work studying how marine ecosystems behave so that you can build your tank with the perfect components!

More Great Products