Fresh tank tips from the algaebarn blog
Pincushion Urchin
Lytechinus variegatus
Captive Bred ORA™
Pincushion Urchins are captive bred, completely reef safe, and will consume many types of unwanted algae on the rocks. See below for more information.
$20
- Clear Algae From Tank
- Pincushion Urchins are known by Reef Aquarists for their fast pace and super-sized appetites. They are great for clearing algal film off of tank walls, rocks, and consuming diatoms.
- Low Maintenance
- Pincushion Urchins, unlike many other aquarium inverts, are able to right themselves if they fall, which minimizes the risk of attack by other animals - this trait also reduces the need to manually turn over fallen inverts.
- Clean Up Crew
- Our Pincushion Urchins are Captive-Bred and Sustainable omivores that eat a variety of foods ranging form detritus to hair algae. They rapidly move through the tank, clearing all waste in their path.
More About Pincushion Urchins
Pincushion Urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) Captive Bred ORA™
The Pincushion Urchin makes an excellent algae eater best known for its tendency to consume unwanted "hair" algae in aquariums as well as fish waste and leftover fish food. These hardy Captive Bred Urchins will also consume other types of unwanted algae found on live rock. They are completely reef safe making them an excellent member of any clean up crew.Pincushion Urchin Size and Care Requirements
Purchase Size: 0.5"-2" (diameter) Max Size: 8" Water Parameters: 72-78° F, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025 ppt, dKH 8-12 Color: White with brown spines Reef Safe: Yes Diet: Herbivore, Omnivore. Pincushion Urchins do not require supplemental feeding when housed in a saltwater aquarium with some nuisance algae and leftover fish food present. As scavengers, these urchins will scour the live rock in your reef aquarium searching for algae or uneaten fish food or fish waste. However, if no algae, fish food, or fish waste is present the pincushion urchin can be fed green algae wafters.Pincushion Urchin Species Information
The Lytechinus variegatus urchin comes from the Western Atlantic Ocean and prefers seagrass meadows and other soft-bottom habitats. Totally reef-safe and fond of consuming unsightly hair algae, it has long been a favorite sea urchin among marine aquarium enthusiasts. It is also important to note that these hardy individuals represent some of the first captive-raised specimens to become available to hobbyists. In addition to being a sustainable alternative to wild caught urchins, they also make a great addition to any clean up crew that will help control and eliminate nuisance algae.100% Alive On Arrival (AOA) Guarantee for Captive Bred Urchins
We guarantee that every urchin we sell will be Alive On Arrival and in good health. Should they arrive in any other state, we will either replace them free of charge (including shipping). If the total livestock loss is less than $20, we will issue store credit. For more information, please also visit our 100% Alive On Arrival Guarantee page. Ocean, Reefs, and Aquariums™ (ORA™) is a world leader in marine aquaculture. In addition to captive bred fish, they also produce many species of captive bred marine invertebrates. If you would like more information about how captive bred snails are bred and raised in captivity, please visit their website.
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Our Guarantee
We take the worry out of buying Live Copepods, Phytoplankton, Inverts, and Captive Bred Fish online by going above and beyond to take care of our customers. That’s why we guarantee every order we ship will be 100% Alive On Arrival or we will replace it free of charge. Booya. We’ll even cover the shipping on the replacement no matter which service you choose. Double Booya.
About our policy: When your order arrives, be sure and inspect the contents to ensure everything is looking alive and well before you add them to your tank or put them in the fridge. We’ll give you 12 hours after delivery to make sure you are completely satisfied.
“We will take care of you and make it right”
If for any reason you decide something isn’t quite ultra grade, simply snap a photo of the unopened item(s) you would like replaced. Be sure to get the expiration date on the back label in the photo. After that, visit www.algaebarn.com/claims and submit the form. We’ll review the photo and have a replacement out to you faster than a six-line wrasse at feeding time.
Captive Bred Fish: We guarantee every Live Fish we ship to be 100% Alive On Arrival and we also offer a 7-day health guarantee on all Live Captive Bred Fish. In the event that your fish arrives DOA (Dead On Arrival), simply take a photo of the fish in the unopened bag/jar within 2 hours after delivery and visit www.algaebarn.com/claims to submit the form. If the fish is DOA, we will offer you a choice of either a full refund or a free replacement, including the shipping cost. If the fish expires from natural causes (this does not include being killed by tank mates, jumping out of the aquarium, being acclimated to the wrong environment, not being fed the recommended foods) within 7 days after delivery, just provide a picture of the expired fish and we will offer you a free replacement, however, you must pay for shipping, or a refund, less the shipping cost. We can offer this industry leading guarantee on all of our live fish because Captive Bred fish are generally healthier and hardier than their wild-caught counterparts!
Invertebrates: We guarantee every invertebrate (Invert) we ship to be 100% Alive On Arrival. In the event that your inverts arrive DOA, simply take photos of the DOA items within 2 hours of delivery and visit www.algaebarn.com/claims to submit the form. We will review the photos and issue store credit for any DOA Inverts!
Once your replacement order is processed, we’ll send you a brand new tracking number automatically. Thats it, pretty simple right?
So start giving your tank the love it deserves and order with confidence knowing that AlgaeBarn has your back.
