Info please - Sea Urchin - False fire urchin

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Info please - Sea Urchin - False fire urchin

Postby bebangs » Mon May 21, 2012 2:04 pm

found this last saturday sa beach, didnt want to touch it. Colorful, might be poisonous.

I cant find any info on websites about these for aquarium.
info please - for pet keeping/aquariums.

Image

http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/375234/enlarge

Caption: False fire urchin (Astropyga radiata). The sea urchin an echinoderm, a relative of the star fish. Its exoskeleton shell, or test, is covered in spines that protect it from predators. This sea urchin is found in bays and lagoons with sandy or pebbly bottoms in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. It can reach diameters of 20 centimetres. Photographed in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
bebangs
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Re: Info please - Sea Urchin - False fire urchin

Postby bebangs » Wed May 23, 2012 12:16 pm

ah.. found it. Masaket pala to. poisonous nga.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Astropyga-r ... hin-241436


These urchins have magnificent coloration, but they can deliver a powerfully painful and venomous sting. This urchin is also known as the Radiating Hatpin Urchin, and the spines are long and sharp, constantly moving, and irregularly distributed. These spines are usually banded in orange and white, darkening to red towards the tips. There are radiating rows of electric blue dots that decorate the body.

In the wild, these urchins play host to a variety of other organisms including commensal shrimp, crabs, and cardinalfish that find solace from predators within the urchins' spines during daylight hours. This fascinating relationship must be a sight to see!

Use extreme caution to avoid contact with this urchin. Must stings comes from accidental contact with the urchin because the aquarist was not aware where it was in the aquarium. Medical attention may be necessary if stung by this urchin.

Specifications:
Venomous Yes (spines)
Temperature Range 75-82
Scientific Name Asthenosoma radiata
Reef Safe No
Community Safe Yes
Difficulty Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Common Name Rainbow Fire Urchin
pH Range 8.0-8.4
Specific Gravity Range 1.022-1.026
Max Size (in inches) 8 (not including spines)
Origin Indo-Pacific
Invert Safe Yes
Aggressiveness Moderate
Min Tank Size (in gallons) 55
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