Sea urchin

My sister bought a sea urchin for my 29 gallon tank. I acclimated him and p u t him in. I had to leave for awhile and when I came back he had white stuff covering him. Is he dead?

 

Okay, he's apparently not dead, yet. I went to remove him and he moved for me so still alive.

Still want/need to know what the white stuff is? Will it cause problems for the other inhabitants?

Thanks

 

Anyone??

 

I have never seen that on an urchin. What kind is it? Did you drip acclimate it?

Yours could be releasing sperm or eggs.

For now, I would maintain high water quality with very low nitrates and good calcium/alkalinity levels and see how your urchin does. It is possible if the urchin is sick, it could give it to other invertebrates, but it depends on the urchin illness.

 

Yes, he was drip acclimated although I will admit I did not do it for long enough. I had to rush out of the house so added him awhile before I was originally going to.

He is mostly stationary but every time I go to take him out thinking he has died I see him moving his spines so he's still alive but whatever he's done to my water I think it has affected one of my clowns. My clown keeps laying on his side. He'll get up to eat or if I come near but it is a little worrying. I will be doing a water change in just a little while. I wanted to do one earlier but had to use the water I had on hand for another tank so am refilling my container now.

From what I could tell from google and your link, it is a possibility. I'll just keep an eye on him/her for now.