Black Tuxedo Urchin

Tuxedo urchins (Mespilia globulus) are the tidiest looking urchins in the hobby: a small round test divided into bands of bare, dark velvet and neat rows of short spines. The dark form sold as black tuxedo keeps that pattern in a deeper, near-black tone. They come from Indo-Pacific reef flats and stay far smaller than the long-spined urchins, which is much of the appeal.

Aquarium care

• Short spines make this a far easier urchin to work around than long-spined species, though the spines are still sharp.
• It grazes film algae, turf and coralline from rock and glass, and can strip a small tank faster than most people expect.
• Offer dried marine algae once natural growth thins out.
• Drip acclimate over a good stretch of time and keep salinity steady; sudden change is the usual cause of loss.
• No copper-based medication in the system.
• It decorates itself with shells, rubble and loose frags, and will topple anything not fixed down.

A neat, compact grazer for an established reef with glued aquascaping and peaceful fish such as clownfish, gobies and small wrasses. Avoid keeping it with triggers, large puffers or hungry wrasses.

Stock rotates. Local pickup at our Lethbridge store; see more in saltwater fish.