Pincushion Urchin

My species/animal is an invertebrate: Pincushion Urchin (Lytechinus variegatus). It is a peaceful species that is reef-safe with caution, admired for its compact, round “pincushion” shape, vibrant green-to-brown coloration, short sturdy spines, and excellent ability to graze on algae.

Males typically cannot be visually distinguished from females, as this species shows no external sexual dimorphism, while juveniles are smaller with lighter coloration and shorter spines. They reach about 3–4 inches in diameter (including spines) as adults and should be housed in aquariums of at least 30 gallons.

Provide ample live rock for grazing, a sand or rubble substrate, and secure aquascaping, as they may carry shells, algae, or other debris on their spines for camouflage. Maintain stable water parameters (salinity ~1.020–1.025, temp ~72–79 °F, pH ~8.1–8.4). While they don’t jump, a secure lid is recommended to prevent them from crawling into overflows or pumps.

Diet should consist of natural algae growth (film, short hair algae, and microalgae), supplemented with dried seaweed (nori), spirulina, and sinking herbivore pellets. In aquariums with low algae growth, consistent supplementation is necessary to avoid starvation. With proper care, this urchin makes a functional and attractive addition to marine aquariums, providing algae control while adding movement and character.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment. On request, we also send photos/videos after arrival at IA. Some species are import-to-order (3-10 business days). Many common species are already cleared or near the end of QT.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3-10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin.