Long-spined sea urchin
(Diadema savignyi)

Description

Long-spined Sea Urchin: Your Reef’s Natural Algae Cleaner

Introduce the fascinating Long-spined Sea Urchin into your marine aquarium! This captivating invertebrate is a vital algae grazer, offering both beauty and function to your carefully curated reef ecosystem.

Overview

The Long-spined Sea Urchin (*Diadema savignyi*) is a striking addition, featuring a spherical, typically black test up to 9 cm in diameter, adorned with remarkably long, brittle spines that can extend up to 25 cm. These spines, usually black, may exhibit hints of grey, brown, or purple, and juveniles can display subtle banding. During the day, it prefers to hide in rock crevices or under ledges, emerging at dusk to actively graze on algae across your tank’s surfaces, playing a crucial role in maintaining a clean and healthy aquarium environment.

Care Level

Caring for the Long-spined Sea Urchin is considered moderately difficult, making it best suited for experienced aquarists. Handle with extreme care, as its spines are brittle and can cause irritation. This species thrives in stable marine conditions and is highly sensitive to fluctuations in water quality; nitrates and copper can be lethal. While generally solitary, they are considered reef-safe, though their grazing may dislodge unsecure rockwork or corals.

Tank Essentials

A minimum tank size of 190 litres (approximately 50 gallons) is recommended for a single Long-spined Sea Urchin, with larger tanks offering more stable conditions. Provide ample rockwork with crevices for daytime hiding. Maintain stable water parameters: a pH range of 8.1-8.4 and a temperature of 22-28°C. A specific gravity between 1.023 and 1.025 is ideal.

Diet

The Long-spined Sea Urchin is primarily herbivorous, using its specialized “Aristotle’s Lantern” mouth to scrape diatoms, green hair algae, filamentous algae, and coralline algae from live rock and tank surfaces. Supplement their diet weekly with high-quality vegetable flakes, dried seaweed, or even small pieces of marine-based frozen foods like sand shrimp if natural algae growth is insufficient.

Why Buy From Us

When you buy Long-spined sea urchin online from Corais de Vidro, you’re investing in robust, ethically sourced marine life. We prioritize the health of our aquarium inhabitants through strict quarantine protocols and expert care. Trust us to deliver healthy aquarium fish and invertebrates, ensuring a smooth transition to your home setup.

• Scientific Name: *Diadema savignyi*
• Common Name / Variant: Long-spined Sea Urchin / Banded Diadem
• Maximum Size: 25 cm (including spines)
• Origin: Indo-Pacific (East Africa, Red Sea, Western Pacific)
• pH Range: 8.1–8.4
• Temperature: 22–28°C
• Lifespan: 3–5 years
• Swimming Zone: Bottom

Add this essential algae-grazer to your reef tank today!