Stress-induced spawning in echinoderms?

[SevTT]

Well, I've noticed two spawning events in three days. One was when I put the tank lights on my 29g after three days of being off -- I'd moved the lights to a different tank -- and the tuxedo urchin promptly climbed to the top of the tank and released eggs for about 10-20 minutes. (This was rather neat to watch; its long tube-feet move rythmically to disperse the eggs.)

Then, today, I picked up a tiger-tail sea cuke, and about ten minutes after putting it in my tank it appeared to be ejecting, well, some sort of gametes, for a couple of minutes.

Is it that time of the year, or do you think it was some sort of stress-induced event?

 

[motortrendz]

maybe they got a thing for u? lol

 

[KathyC]

Water changes - or even a change in water - will sometimes induce spawing. The full moon (there is one tomorrow) sends a strong signal to many creatures to spawn. I could guarantee that if I did a water change right before a full moon, my bristleworms would almost spawn on cue
(what talent..lol)

 

[motortrendz]

really? i didnt think it would have that effect on home aquariums..i learn mew things evey other post on this site lol

 

[KathyC]

really? i didnt think it would have that effect on home aquariums..i learn mew things evey other post on this site lol

Yeah really I've done it numerous times. There are pics around here somewhere. Interesting behaviors to observe.

 

[SevTT]

maybe they got a thing for u? lol

You'd think I was playing Barry White at the tank 24/7. I've seen my cleaner shrimp spawn, my grass shrimp are full of eggs, my cerith and trochus snails are making more of themselves, and I've practically always got a batch of clownfish eggs going.

I really need to get a small, P&S camera with good macro capability and the ability to shoot HD for situatoins like this.