Pincushion Urchin, Lytechinus variegatus

The Pincushion Urchin has an oval to round body covered with hundreds of uniform spines. Its color can range from red to purple to white and blue.

It requires ample hiding places and sufficient room in which to forage in the home aquarium, it comes out to graze on algae. The aquarium should include large amounts of live rock on which it can graze. It is generally solitary, but will tolerate others of its own kind. It is sensitive to high nitrates and poor water quality will cause it to lose its spines.

If there is insufficient algae for it to graze on, the diet should be supplemented with dried seaweed.