Tuxedo Urchin

The Tuxedo Urchin, also known as the Crown Urchin, seems less spiny than other urchins at first glance. They are peaceful herbivores whose unique habits can make for interesting aquarium viewing. Tuxedo Urchins are sensitive to water quality. They will not tolerate copper based medications, high nitrate levels, or fluctuations in alkalinity. Poor water quality can cause an urchin to lose its spines and die. Provided with good water quality, an ailing Tuxedo Urchin may regenerate its spines and recover. Although the spines of tuxedo urchins are venomous, they are very short and not particularily sharp. In fact, they almost have a fuzzy appearance. They are rather retiring and spend much of their time hiding under rockwork or camouflaging themselves with coral rubble. Plenty of hiding places should be provided. At night, Urchins feed on algae and other plant material that they can find in their habitats. Most will appreciate algae covered grazing areas near hiding places or niches. Although tuxedo urchins are found alone in nature, they may be kept in small groups in captivity, although usually an aquarium will not provide a good habitat for more than three of these animals. The tuxedo urchin normally grows to a diameter of 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters), excluding the length of its short spines. The Urchin's body is brown in color, and has several dark blue bands radiating from the center, where no spines grow. In some specimens, these areas may be black, olive, or even whitish in color. This pattern of bands and spines resembles a crown and is the origin of the common name. Cilia (fine hairlike structures) protrude from the urchin's body, and are used to grasp materials used to camouflage the urchin. The spines, which are generally dark, reddish or brown in color, may have light bands.

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