Urchin sick?

[byronious]

I have a short-spined urchin that I am wondering about. He has been moving around for 3-4 weeks normally.

The last two days I have noticed a white trail in the places on the live rock where he has been. Looks like bird droppings running down the rock.
He is wedged between 2 rocks tonight, which is not unusual. Any ideas? :squigglemouth:

 

[skinz78]

Any pic's?

 

[byronious]

Just took this pic. White T5s had just went off 15 minutes ago.

Read on another forum that this is normal. It's stripping all the coraline off as it goes. ?

 

[Squishie89]

That is not a bad theory, that he is eating the coraline. Urchins are known to do that. How are his eating habits? Any loss of spikes?

 

[byronious]

No he hasn't lost any spikes. He moves around for a day and then sits in one spot for a day or two. Last night I happened to be watching him and observed him pooping! Couldn't believe it and how long it took. Figured he was healthy if he was doing that. Just didn't know about the white trails he left.

 

[Squishie89]

I am no expert, but my hunch is he is eating the coraline. You may want to try giving him some nori/seaweed when he is up and moving again.

 

[skinz78]

Yep that is exactly what he is doing, perfectly normal.

 

[slapshot]

That is what they do. He is cleaning up your rocks.

 

[byronious]

Okay good to know. Thanks guys.