Mespilia globulus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Blue Tuxedo Urchin

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean

Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits reef terraces, beneath overhangs, crevices and also found on rock and rubble areas covered in algae.

General Husbandry: Somewhat common in the home aquarium trade.

Basically stays still, usually under ledges during daylight hours and when evening arrives, begins its search for food, usually algae/coralline algae.

Can be maintained in a reef or fish-only aquariums and if somewhat devoid of algae, small plaster-of-Paris feeding stones that contain seaweed and algae can sometimes help lengthen lifespans of these urchins in aquariums, as will sheets of Nori weighted down with small rocks.

Has a desire for calcium carbonate, which is a mainly coralline alga. Therefore can be given pieces of cuttlebone or algae blocks to prevent it from consuming coralline algae, which most aquarists cherish. Place in aquarium in early evening hours.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Echinoides

Order: Temnopleuroida

Family: Temnopleuridae

Genus: Mespilla

FYI: Vulnerable to sudden salinity/specific gravity changes.

May decorate itself with small pieces of corals or loose algae.

Triggerfish and large wrasses will eat these urchins.

Experience Level: Beginner

Diet: Herbivore

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: Sensitive to specific gravity/salinity changes, therefore be sure to adjust the bag's water to that of the aquarium in which it will be placed by slowly adding small amounts of aquarium water to the bag every few minutes. In most cases, this process should take at least 15 minutes.

Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy

Temperature Range: 72 - 83°F (22 - 28°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 60 gallons

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4