Salmacis virgulate

L. Agassiz in L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846

Purple Short Spine Pincushion/Regular Urchin

Range: East Africa, India, China, Southern Japan, and along the coast of Asia and Philippines.

Size: Size: 3 inches (8 cm)

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

Will generally roam alone, but several of them could be housed in the same aquarium if it is large enough to provide them with adequate food (algae) and shelter. Even though mainly considered an herbivore, when that form of food is in short supply, may consume polychaetes (worms), sponges, brittle stars, cucumbers, sea stars, other urchins and inactive/molting crabs/shrimp if available. Small, plaster-of-Paris feeding stones that contain seaweed and algae can sometimes help lengthen lifespans, as will sheets of Nori weighted down with small rocks.

Note: Experience Level: Beginner

Diet: See General Husbandry

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: Yes (See General Husbandry)

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes (See General Husbandry)

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: 20 gallons

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Echinoides

Order: Temnopleuroida

Family: Temnopleuridae

Genus: Salmacis

FYI: Vulnerable to sudden salinity/specific gravity changes.

Triggerfish and large wrasses will eat these urchins.