{"product_id":"purple-pincushion-urchin-salmacis-saltwater","title":"Purple Pincushion Urchin (Salmacis sp.)","description":"\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 Purple Pincushion Urchin (\u003cem\u003eSalmacis\u003c\/em\u003e sp.) is a living algae mower dressed in purple-banded spines. It spends all day and night methodically grazing film algae, hair algae, and leftover nuisance growth off rock and glass, and it is completely peaceful toward everything else in the tank. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock\u003c\/a\u003e while you are here.\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\u003cp\u003eUrchins are easy keepers in an established tank with one honest requirement: enough algae to eat. Starve one and it will slowly waste; feed it and it is nearly indestructible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 gallons or larger, established for at least a few months so there is real algae growth to graze.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFood:\u003c\/strong\u003e Film and hair algae first. When the tank gets too clean, supplement with dried seaweed sheets clipped or rubber-banded to the rock a few times a week.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72 to 78°F, salinity 1.023 to 1.025. Like all echinoderms it has no tolerance for swings, so acclimate slowly (a drip acclimation is ideal) and keep salinity stable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAquascape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Secure your rockwork and glue down frags. Pincushions are gentle but determined bulldozers, and they love to pick up loose frags, snail shells, and rubble to wear as hats.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandling:\u003c\/strong\u003e The short spines are not venomous, but lift it gently and never pull it off the glass; let it release on its own.\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=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:6px 0 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePurple Pincushion Urchin, Purple Short Spine 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\n\u003cem\u003eSalmacis\u003c\/em\u003e sp.\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, in an established tank\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 grazer\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, with caution: may carry off loose frags and bulldoze unsecured rock\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;\"\u003eAbout 3 in. across\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMin. Tank Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e20 gallons, established\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\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eHerbivore (film algae, hair algae, seaweed sheets)\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;\"\u003eIndo-Pacific\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\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 every reef fish, coral, shrimp, and snail; it competes only with other algae grazers for food, so stock one urchin per 20 to 30 gallons of algae-growing surface. Keep it away from predators of invertebrates like large wrasses, puffers, and triggers. It plays especially well alongside a cleanup crew of snails and a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/strawberry-conch-conomurex-luhuanus-saltwater\"\u003eStrawberry Conch\u003c\/a\u003e working the sand while the urchin works the rocks.\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\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/rods-food-leafy-purple-seaweed-30g-tang-food\"\u003eRod's Food Leafy Purple Seaweed\u003c\/a\u003e for supplement feeding when the rocks run clean\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/red-pom-pom-gracilaria-macroalgae-saltwater\"\u003eRed Pom Pom Gracilaria\u003c\/a\u003e, live macroalgae it will happily graze\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/strawberry-conch-conomurex-luhuanus-saltwater\"\u003eStrawberry Conch\u003c\/a\u003e to cover the sandbed side of the cleanup crew\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse all \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e\n\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\u003eIs it reef safe?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, with one asterisk: it does not eat coral, but it will pick up and carry off anything loose, frags included. Glue your frags down and it is a model citizen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is it wearing my frag plug as a hat?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDecorating is normal urchin behavior, it uses cover as camouflage and sun protection. Take it as a compliment, then glue things down better.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it run out of food?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn a very clean tank, yes. If you see the rocks looking spotless, clip in a piece of dried seaweed a few times a week and it will stay fat and healthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre the spines dangerous?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. This is a short-spined, non-venomous species. Handle it gently and let it release its grip on its own rather than pulling.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48152147853531,"sku":"IURPU610AA-0","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/8499b0d0-24b5-11ee-8aeb-ed9eea25e8ca.webp?v=1768488119","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/purple-pincushion-urchin-salmacis-saltwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}