Care Level: Easy

Temperament: Peaceful

Reef Compatible: Yes

General Description: The Tuxedo Urchin comes in two variations: the Blue Tuxedo Urchin, with broad bands that are blue to black in color in between bands of extremely fine spines that are generally beige, and the Red Tuxedo Urchin, with broad bands that are typically more blue in between bands of extremely fine spines that are red. Tuxedo urchins grow to a size of 3″, making them a more sought after urchin species for their compact size. Tuxedo urchins are excellent at controlling algae in a reef aquarium. More of a nocturnal animal, the Tuxedo urchin will seldom be active during the day as it hides among live rock. Tuxedo urchins may be seen with pieces of substrate or empty shells on their bodies; this is normal behavior, as the urchin uses these items to aid in camouflage. The Tuxedo urchin is safe to handle.

Diet Requirements: Tuxedo urchins are voracious herbivores. They consume various algae on the live rock, including hair algae. If insufficient algae is present, we recommend supplementing sheet algae to prevent starvation.

Tank Requirements: An established, minimum aquarium size of 30 gallons is recommended to house a Tuxedo urchin. Maintaining stable water parameters is a component to the success of keeping this invertebrate; urchins are intolerable of high nitrates and shedding of its spines is a sign of poor water quality. Generous live rock with some crevices will mimic the Tuxedo urchin’s natural environment and give it ample places to graze off of. Loose corals can be accidentally knocked over by the Tuxedo urchin as it moves around. Multiple individuals of Tuxedo urchin can be kept together, so long as the aquarium can support it. It is imperative to take time acclimating a Tuxedo urchin; we suggest via drip acclimation. Recommended water conditions: 76-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.024-1.026.

Purchase Size: Small: 1-1/2″ to 2″; Medium: 2″ to 3″

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase size is approximate.