Sea Urchin - dead/eaten

[kcstrad]

I awoke to find my Sea Urchin hollowed out, with the spines removed (laying around the body of the urchin) and interior of the body gone. I question if it was eaten and if so, who is the likely suspect:

1. Porcupine Puffer
2. Niger Trigger
3. Large Hermit Crab

I have two damsels in the tank as well, but i wont consider them as culprits.

 

[Anonymous]

My guess would be osmotic shock. They literally dissolve except for the shell & spines.

 

[WRASSER]

my guess would be all of the above ate the urchin, the puffer more than likely started the feast

 

[Anonymous]

I think osmotic shock is a big possibility as well, that is what they look like when that happens. Spines just fall out and the innards dissolve. Unfortunately had it happen to mine before in a small tank where I wasn't as carefull as I shouold have been with top off. Live and learn.

 

[Anonymous]

I third that..seen/experienced it a few times myself

 

[WRASSER]

LOL, Oh sure everyone jump on the band wagon, well it could have been eaten, it could've :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

LOL, Oh sure everyone jump on the band wagon, well it could have been eaten, it could've :lol:

It could of. I was just thinking that if it had been preyed upon I would expect the spines to be scattered around and not just laying around the body.

 

[Tackett]

osmotic shock. A feast would have scattered the spines all over the tank, not laying neatly around it.

 

[K9coral]

I watched a niger trigger devour a long spine urchin and a tuxedo urchin in about 12 hours of "off and on" picking.

 

[WRASSER]

Thanks K9 for your support :wink:
m there are so many against me i dont know what to do :?


Ok maybe it could have been osmotic shock, would the shock take over in one nigt or is it a process of days :?:

 

[Anonymous]

I still think its osmotic shock..I guess we'll never know...buy another urchin and keep an eye on your usual suspects..Ive never owned any of the fish you suspect but was this urchin dead by morning? if so, do those fish typically eat at night..You'll have to forgive me, im a nano guy...

would the shock take over in one nigt or is it a process of days

no, a matter of hours, at best a few days...

3. Large Hermit Crab

Doubtful...my mantis shrimp takes a few swats at my urchin every once in awhile to no harm to the urchin.. and FWIW i bet my tiny mantis would eat a large hermit (with delight)

 

[K9coral]

Thats nice.....the trigger did it :twisted:

 

[Anonymous]

I was just thinking that if it had been preyed upon I would expect the spines to be scattered around and not just laying around the body.

See K9, Guy has a point...did you see the trigger over 12hrs picking at it and removing spines, mind you probably scattered?

All they, we are trying to say, is although those guys are good canidates for predating on it, the forensic evidence doesnt point to them either...

with the spines removed (laying around the body of the urchin)

Its like a reverse spontaneous combustion :wink:

 

[K9coral]

Shhhhh.... I watched the trigger pick and prod until it managed to grab the urchin on its ?bottom? mouth and pick it from the inside out with what appeared to be a precision attack! YES, evidence points to the fish being the culprit however Im sure there are many ways for this to happen. IMO however - the $$$ goes on the fish :lol: