Pincushion Urchin

The Pincushion sea urchin ( Lytechinus variegatus ) is a sea urchin native to the Caribbean, recognizable by its numerous short spines that give it the appearance of a pincushion—hence its name. Its color varies from white to green, pink, or red depending on the individual. It is an active grazer, but less intensive than the Diadema, and well-suited to balanced reef aquariums.

His role in the baccalaureate

An efficient grazer of filamentous and encrusting algae on rocky surfaces and the substrate. Its short spines make it less dangerous to scavenge than the Diadema. Like the Tuxedo, it can "decorate" its body with fragments of algae and debris.

Recommended conditions

• Temperature: 24–27°C
• Salinity: 1.023–1.026
• pH: 7.8–8.4 (normal natural day/night fluctuation in a reef tank)
• Alkalinity: 8–11 dKH — Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Minimum volume: 150L

Behavior

Active day and night. Short spines — safe with frags and firmly attached corals. Harmless to fish. Avoid with triggerfish.