Urchin identification help

Synthgp

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Hi all -

I was sold the following as a Halloween urchin, but get the feeling this is some sort of spiny urchin. Can anyone help me identify what type of urchin this is?

IMG_3609.jpeg IMG_3610.jpeg
 
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Ron Reefman

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I think Halloween urchins have short spines (I'm 80% sure).

Yours looks more like a Rock Boring urchin. I snorkel in the Florida Keys and we have lots of Rock Boring urchins. They have fairly long spines and very red tests. They tend to find a hole in the rock (or make their own hole) and stay there. They don't move around much after they find a spot that they like and they tend to hide out under rocks rather than moving around. They do NOT cause issues with any other critters in an aquarium. I have 2 of them in my 40g AIO tank.
 
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Synthgp

Synthgp

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I think Halloween urchins have short spines (I'm 80% sure).

Yours looks more like a Rock Boring urchin. I snorkel in the Florida Keys and we have lots of Rock Boring urchins. They have fairly long spines and very red tests. They tend to find a hole in the rock (or make their own hole) and stay there. They don't move around much after they find a spot that they like and they tend to hide out under rocks rather than moving around. They do NOT cause issues with any other critters in an aquarium. I have 2 of them in my 40g AIO tank.
Ah - thanks for this. I agree. It looks like a rock boring urchin and generally finds a crevice I. The rocks and stays there during the day. It will come out and wander a bit and then go right back.

Just a bit annoyed as I was expecting a Halloween urchin and received this instead.
 

Ron Reefman

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Ah - thanks for this. I agree. It looks like a rock boring urchin and generally finds a crevice I. The rocks and stays there during the day. It will come out and wander a bit and then go right back.

Just a bit annoyed as I was expecting a Halloween urchin and received this instead.
Don't be too upset, it's a good urchin. And unlike most other urchins, it's unlikely to pick up anything in the tank and use it as camouflage.
 

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