What is he spitting out of his body?

[erickrebsbach]

Please look at these pictures of my pencil urchin and tell me what in the world he is doing? Thanx

 

[Anonymous]

Either #2 or #3 and #3 is spawning. Since if I recall Urchins don't do #1 you should be able to figure out what #2 is.
Seriously though I would say it's spawning.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[erickrebsbach]

Is that good :?: Will there be any unexpected little ones or does it take two with these guys? and will this hurt other tank mates Thanx..

 

[Anonymous]

Without digging thru my references I believe that urchins are either male or female and eggs are fertilized externally. So yep you need two of them. So whether it be either the eggs or sperm released from your critter it will not harm other tank inhabitants but will be a bonus food for them.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah i think you need two..however there are no distinguishing marks or physical features to tell a male apart from a female...from my understanding urchins dont have a high success rate spawing in the home aquarium

 

[Anonymous]

That there's a male, I believe. Urchins are gonorhistic (sp?) , meaning they have separate sexes. Sperm looks like milk in the water, eggs look like spider silk, and they sink. Urchins can be induced to spawn by injecting them with KCl. At least with the urchins I care for, doing this to one outside of the water and then placing it back in a tank containing urchins will cause all the others in the tank to begin spawning. It's neat to watch. As far as I know they have a long planktonic stage, and probably can't be grown out in the aquarium.