Sea urchin & starfish

Just some stuff in my aquarium - first is a sea urchin, seen from underneath as he climbs the glass. What's cool (doesn't show up so great in the video) is that sea urchins look like they're just sitting there, but if you look closely you see hundreds of tentacles waving around all the time amid the spines.

The starfish is about 1 1/2 inches long, really small. Creepy how they move, just kind of gliding over everything.

I have to keep these two separated because the starfish will eat the urchin. I also had two urchins in there for a couple days and the one you see here ate the other one. I thought they were mating until the one on the bottom finally emerged, hollowed out like a pumpkin. Not particularly friendly animals, urchins and starfish.

I found these creatures washed up on the beach here in SC. The aquarium is just seawater run through a regular filter, no protein skimmers etc. You don't need anything extra if you have a ready source of seawater. Just dump the water in, filter it and that's it. Change out 1/3 of the water every couple weeks - works great.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• sea
• urchin
• starfish

[zombieteenager007]

@Danno21F Hahahah xD Polite teenager :p Made me laugh xD It's not a problem my friend >:3 Glad I can help clear up things C:

[Danno21F]

NOTE TO ALL: zombieteenager007 is CORRECT. This evening (9/10/2011) I posted a much clearer sea urchin video here on YouTube where you (and I) can clearly see that the 'tentacles' I saw waving around on THIS video are, in fact, tube feet.

Zombieteenager, thanks for the info, and thanks for being so polite about it. Imagine that, a polite teenager. EXCELLENT!

[zombieteenager007]

@Danno21F Ohhh cool! :D How's it like though there? :3 Hahahah xD Thx mann :D I'm sure I'll keep you informed ;D And if you need anything gimme a call :3 More than happy to look up things :D And It's not a problem ^-^

[Danno21F]

I recently moved back to the shore (Atlantic) so there's a good chance I'll snag another urchin - they wash up after storms and if I'm running salt water I stick them in the aquarium 'til they're back on their (tube) feet. If I find one you'll be the first to know.

Meanwhile, if you find out anything gimme a holler. It can be a year from now, whatever - no hurry.

This is interesting. Thanks.

[zombieteenager007]

@Danno21F Ohhhh dammnnnn D: Message me if you do :3 And I'll be more than happy to take the time trying to find out what they actually are :p And It's noo problem matee :D More than happy to be of service ^-^

[Danno21F]

I never heard of them either, so I was surprised when I saw them in action.

In my other sea urchin/starfish video you can see a couple of them a little bit, but back then I had such a crappy camera all detail was lost, and of course now I don't have the urchin any more, I let him go. Listen, if I happen to catch another urchin I'll film exactly what I'm talking about and post the video, and let you know.

Nice of you to take the time to be helpful, thanks!

[zombieteenager007]

@Danno21F Hmmm... I don't know about any such structures though ;o Hmm... Could be though :3 But as far as I know I never heard of such structures o.o

[Danno21F]

Well, this is what's confusing. The structures I'm talking about are not used for locomotion. They're different than the tube feet on the bottom of the urchin. The things I'm talking about are hairlike structures that wave around in the water independent of the feet. They DO seem to have a sensory function. I'm pretty sure they're different than tube feet. They seem to feel things for the urchin, kind of like whiskers on a cat or antennae on an insect.

[zombieteenager007]

@Danno21F If the structures we are discussing are tube feet, which I'm certain they are as I've looked the matter up but I'm still not 100% sure, then yes, all sea urchins possess them :p If not all echinoderms in general ;o Since they all possess a water vascular system :3

Tube feet to be exact don't have a sensory function however ;o They're proper function is for locomotion, gaseous exchange and suction which becomes useful in feeding :p

[Danno21F]

Don't go to any trouble, but I would be interested in finding out what they are exactly. They seem like some kind of sensory organ to me.

I looked on the internet but didn't find any info on those exact structures. I'm not even sure all sea urchins have them, but mine did (purple sea urchin). Anyway, I appreciate your time.