Pencil Urchins

Quick Stats

Description

The Pencil Urchin (Heterocentrotus mammillatus) is a unique and visually striking urchin known for its dark purple to black coloration and long, spiky spines. This species is popular in reef aquariums for its aesthetic appeal and beneficial role in maintaining tank health.

Pencil Urchins are generally peaceful and can be a great addition to community reef tanks, but caution should be exercised when introducing them to systems with small or delicate corals. They can be known to occasionally disturb corals while searching for food, so it’s essential to monitor their interactions within the aquarium.

As herbivores, Pencil Urchins primarily feed on algae, making them excellent contributors to algae control in a reef environment. It’s important to provide a varied diet that includes high-quality marine algae, seaweed, and algae-based pellets to ensure their optimal health.

These urchins thrive in well-established aquariums with stable water conditions and sufficient hiding places among rocks and crevices. A minimum tank size of 30 gallons is recommended to provide enough space for foraging and growth.

Pencil Urchins are relatively easy to care for, making them suitable for hobbyists with moderate experience in maintaining marine tanks. Their unique appearance and beneficial role in the aquarium ecosystem make them a popular choice among aquarists.

Approximate Purchase Size: 2″ to 4″