Tuxedo Urchin – Mespilia globulus
Scientific name: Mespilia globulus
Common names: Pincushion Urchin, Globe Urchin or Blue Tuxedo
Maximum Size: 3″
Minimum tank size: Big enough to provide it with hiding place and enough food.
Hardiness: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Agressiveness: Low
Water Parameters: 72-78° F, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, dKH 8-12
Diet: Herbivore. Will eat algae in the aquarium
Natural location: Indo-Pacific
Identification: Has five to ten broad-colored bands usually blue or black, with red, brown, or dark spines.
Additional information:
It will hide during the day and goes out at night to graze on algae. More than one can be keep in an aquarium as long as there is enough food (algae) and shelter. If not enough algae in a tank, it’s diet should be supplemented with dried seaweed. Mespilia globulus may live up to five years.
Warning: Remember that invertebrates does not tolerate high nitrate levels and copper-based medications. Poor water condition will make it lose it’s spines. It may bulldoze coral polyps in your marine aquarium and make sure to firmly fix the rockwork so that it may not dislodge them.
Popularity: 3% [?]
