{"product_id":"pincushion-urchin-lytechinus-variegatus-saltwater","title":"Pincushion Urchin (Lytechinus variegatus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#FBE9E7;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ePincushion Urchin\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eLytechinus variegatus\u003c\/em\u003e) is the hardiest urchin in the hobby and the one worth starting with. It is a relentless grazer that works turf and hair algae off live rock all day, and unlike the big spiny urchins it is compact, short-spined, and far less likely to bulldoze your aquascape on the way past. It also has one genuinely endearing habit: it picks up shell fragments, bits of rubble, and stray snail shells and carries them around on its back as camouflage, so most of the time you are watching a slowly moving pile of debris rather than an urchin. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a tank fighting hair algae, it is one of the most effective animals you can add. It will not solve the nutrient problem that caused the algae, but it will strip the rock clean while you fix the cause.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 to 30 gallons and up. What matters is live rock surface to graze, not water volume.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablished tank required:\u003c\/strong\u003e it eats algae and biofilm off mature rock. A newly cycled tank cannot feed one, and a starving urchin is the main way people lose them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e turf algae, hair algae, film algae, and leftover food. In a tank that is genuinely clean, supplement with dried nori on a clip or a sinking algae wafer a couple of times a week.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGlue your frags down.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is less destructive than most urchins, but it will still nudge loose frags and pick up anything small enough to wear. Anything not attached is fair game.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72 to 78°F, salinity 1.023 to 1.025, pH 8.1 to 8.4. Drip acclimate slowly over an hour or more. Echinoderms are far less tolerant of salinity swings than fish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eZero copper:\u003c\/strong\u003e copper-based medications are lethal to urchins. Never dose them in a tank holding one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNitrate matters:\u003c\/strong\u003e they do poorly in high-nitrate systems. Keep up with water changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt eats coralline too.\u003c\/strong\u003e Worth knowing if you have spent years growing purple coralline on the back wall. It does not discriminate between algae you want and algae you do not.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePincushion Urchin, Variegated Sea Urchin, Green Sea Urchin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eLytechinus variegatus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eWestern Atlantic and Caribbean\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner, the hardiest of the aquarium urchins\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdult size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eTypically 3 to 4 inches, up to about 6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e20 to 30 gallons with live rock\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReef safe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eYes, glue loose frags down\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eHerbivore, turf and hair algae grazer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCopper\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLethal, never dose in the same tank\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e72 to 78°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1.023 to 1.025\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSaltwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSafe with corals, peaceful reef fish, and the rest of a cleanup crew. It handles a different job from the others, so it pairs naturally with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/zebra-turbo-snail-turbo-sp-saltwater\"\u003eZebra Turbo Snails\u003c\/a\u003e on film algae, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/nassarius-snail-nassarius-sp-saltwater\"\u003eNassarius Snails\u003c\/a\u003e in the sand bed, a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/pitho-crab-pitho-sp-saltwater\"\u003ePitho Crab\u003c\/a\u003e on bubble algae, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/peppermint-shrimp-lysmata-sp-saltwater\"\u003ePeppermint Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e on Aiptasia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping it with anything that eats echinoderms: triggers, large wrasses, puffers, and some angels will pick at an urchin until it fails. And remember it is an obstacle as much as a resident, so make sure the aquascape is stable enough that a wandering urchin cannot topple a rock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDried nori sheets on a feeding clip for when the algae runs out\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/zebra-turbo-snail-turbo-sp-saltwater\"\u003eZebra Turbo Snail\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/nassarius-snail-nassarius-sp-saltwater\"\u003eNassarius Snail\u003c\/a\u003e to round out the cleanup crew\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/pitho-crab-pitho-sp-saltwater\"\u003ePitho Crab\u003c\/a\u003e if bubble algae is also part of the problem\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse the full \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater\u003c\/a\u003e selection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it eat my hair algae?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, and it is one of the better animals for the job. Give it a week or two on an established rock scape and the difference is obvious.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is it covered in shells and rubble?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat is normal and healthy. Pincushions collect debris and hold it against their body as camouflage. If yours is wearing half your sand bed, it is a happy urchin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it knock over my corals?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is gentler than most urchins, but it still wanders. Glue frags to the rock and it will move past them without incident. Anything loose can end up relocated or worn as a hat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it safe to handle?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe spines are short and blunt compared to a long-spined urchin, and it is not venomous, but do not grab it. Move it with a container rather than your hand, both for your sake and its tube feet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMine is losing spines. What is wrong?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsually acclimation shock, poor water quality, or copper exposure. Check salinity stability and nitrate first. Some spine loss right after introduction is common and recovers if conditions are good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it eat my coralline algae?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. It grazes coralline along with everything else. If you prize your purple back wall, this may not be the animal for that tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48113374363867,"sku":"1595069","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/pincushion-urchin-lytechinus-variegatus-saltwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}