How to Move a Sea Urchin in an Aquarium

Sea urchins are saltwater creatures that look like spiny pin cushions. They have hundreds of tube feet that sense the world around them. They move around an aquarium, feeding on algae and looking for corners and hiding places. Their spiny shells range from 2 to 5 inches in diameter. If you need to change the reef or rock landscape of your aquarium, clean the tank, or switch tanks, you'll need to move your sea urchins. Fortunately, doing so is a rather simple task. Keep in mind that whenever you move sea urchins, it's crucial to be gentle while also making the move as quick as possible.

Things You'll Need

  • Spare aquarium or container
  • Live rock
  • Fish net
  • Aqua tongs
  • Fish tank gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill a spare fish tank or glass or acrylic container with water from your current fish tank. The amount of water you drain depends on the size and number of sea urchins you need to move. The more sea urchins you have and the larger they are, the more water you need to use.

    • 2

      Place live rock and some sand or pebbles into the spare container. Pick out the live rock from your current aquarium wearing your aquarium gloves or with tongs. Live rock is rock that has come from the ocean and contributes its chemistry to the ecology of the aquarium. Sea urchins prefer this kind of aquarium decoration to rest or hide on. Other aquarium decorations, such as castles, work as well if you don't have any live rock.

    • 3

      Scoop your sea urchin out of your aquarium with a fish net or your gloved hand and quickly but gently place it in the spare container on or near the aquarium decoration. Avoid using your hands if you have a spiny sea urchin that can prick you. Avoid moving the sea urchin while its tube feet are extended, since these can be injured in the move. Move a sea urchin with the live rock or other decoration if it is set on there. Otherwise, just move the sea urchin itself.

    • 4

      Efficiently clean your tank or perform any maintenance tasks on it that required you to move your sea urchin.

    • 5

      Return your sea urchin to the original tank in the same manner that you moved it from the tank.