Pincushion Sea Urchin Lytechinus Variegatus

Overview:
The Pincushion Sea Urchin is a small to medium-sized urchin with a round, ball-like body covered in short, stubby spines. It gets its name from its pincushion-like shape. Known for being efficient algae grazers, they are popular in aquariums for keeping live rock clean.

Origin:
Found throughout the Western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, often in seagrass beds, sandy flats, and shallow reefs.

Feeding:

• Primarily herbivorous: feeds on film algae, coralline algae, and macroalgae.
• Will graze constantly on live rock surfaces.
• Can be supplemented with dried seaweed (nori), spirulina, and algae wafers.

Tank Mates:

• Reef-safe (does not harm corals).
• Avoid predators like triggerfish, puffers, and large wrasses, which may nip at or consume them.

Aggression Level:
Peaceful. May accidentally knock over loose corals or frags while grazing and moving around.

Experience Level:
Beginner to Intermediate. Fairly hardy but needs a mature tank with sufficient algae to prevent starvation.

Water Parameters:

• Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• Salinity: 1.023–1.025
• Tank Size: 30+ gallons

Unique Features:

• Rounded “pincushion” shape with spines shorter and blunter than many other urchins.
• Known to decorate itself by attaching shells, bits of rubble, or algae to its spines for camouflage.
• Active grazer that helps control nuisance algae in reef aquariums.

‚ú® The Pincushion Sea Urchin is a hardy, reef-safe addition that excels at algae control and thrives in tanks with plenty of live rock and established algae growth.