Collector Urchin
(Tripneustes gratilla)

Description

Collector Urchin: Your Reef’s Natural Algae Cleaner

Add a diligent clean-up crew member to your marine aquarium with the fascinating Collector Urchin. Known for its unique camouflaging habits, this active invertebrate continuously grazes, keeping your rockwork pristine.

Overview

The Collector Urchin (*Tripneustes gratilla*) is a striking sea urchin, typically displaying dark, often bluish-purple bodies adorned with white or sometimes orange-tipped spines. Its common name stems from its endearing habit of “collecting” debris, shells, and algae on its spines for camouflage and protection. These active grazers move constantly across your substrate and live rock, contributing significantly to a healthy aquarium environment by consuming undesirable algae.

Care Level

Moderate. Collector Urchins are generally peaceful and compatible with most non-aggressive reef inhabitants. They are excellent algae eaters, making them a valuable addition to your clean-up crew. Ensure stable water parameters are maintained, as they can be sensitive to fluctuations, especially in salinity and copper-based medications.

Tank Essentials

A minimum tank size of 150 litres (approximately 40 US gallons) is recommended for a single Collector Urchin, providing ample grazing area. They thrive in mature reef aquariums with plenty of live rock for grazing and exploration. Maintain stable water parameters: specific gravity 1.021-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, and temperature 23-27°C.

Diet

These herbivorous grazers primarily feed on various types of algae, including filamentous algae, macroalgae, and coralline algae, found on live rock and tank surfaces. If natural algae levels are insufficient, supplement their diet with dried seaweed (nori) clipped to the aquarium glass. They graze continuously, day and night.

Why Buy From Us

When you buy Collector Urchin online from Corais de Vidro, you receive healthy, responsibly sourced invertebrates. We prioritize ethical collection and humane shipping practices, ensuring your new clean-up crew member arrives in prime condition, ready to thrive in your reef aquarium and contribute to its ecological balance. We are committed to offering the best healthy aquarium fish and inverts.

• Scientific Name: Tripneustes gratilla
• Common Name / Variant: Collector Urchin, Halloween Urchin
• Maximum Size: 10-15 cm
• Origin: Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, Red Sea, The Bahamas
• pH Range: 8.1–8.4
• Temperature: 23–27°C
• Lifespan: Several years (reaches maturity in 2-5 years)
• Swimming Zone: Bottom

Enhance your reef’s health and beauty today!