Lytechinus variegatus

(Leske, 1778)

Variegated Urchin, Green Urchin, Pincushion Urchin

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Florida, Caribbean, and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits muddy substrates and algae covered rocks and feed mainly on seagrass.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen 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.

Also 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: Toxopneustidae

Genus: Lytechinus

FYI: Vulnerable to sudden salinity/specific gravity changes.

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 - 79°F (22 - 26°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 60 gallons

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4