Red Pincushion Urchin

The Pincushion Urchin is a roundish, spiny creature that can be red, purple, white, or blue in color. In an aquarium, it requires plenty of hiding places and space to forage. During the day, it hides in caves or burrows in the substrate, but at night, it feeds on algae using its suctorial podia. To accommodate the Pincushion Urchin, the aquarium should have ample live rock for grazing and stable rock formations for hiding. Although solitary, it can tolerate others of its kind. Copper-based medications and high nitrates can be harmful to it, and poor water quality can cause spine loss. Breeding in captivity is extremely difficult. If there is insufficient algae in the aquarium, supplement its diet with dried seaweed.