Black Tuxedo Urchin

The Black Tuxedo Urchin offers a compact, short-spined grazing form with dark bands across its body. Tuxedo urchins explore rockwork for algae and often remain tucked into crevices during brighter parts of the day before becoming more active at night.

Provide mature rock surfaces with a dependable supply of algae. A small urchin still needs sustained food, so offer dried marine seaweed when grazing becomes sparse and avoid crowding several urchins into a limited feeding area. Shelters should leave enough clearance for the animal to pass without becoming wedged.

Stable marine water chemistry is essential. Watch for loss of spines or a declining grip as reasons to check conditions promptly, and keep copper medication out of its system. Handle by a suitable container rather than squeezing the spines.