{"id":9346,"date":"2026-02-17T07:19:38","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T07:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/mine-sea-urchin-eucidaris-tribuloides\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T07:19:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T07:19:38","slug":"mine-sea-urchin-eucidaris-tribuloides","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=mine-sea-urchin-eucidaris-tribuloides","title":{"rendered":"Mine Sea Urchin Eucidaris Tribuloides"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mine Sea Urchin \u2013 Eucidaris tribuloides<\/em><\/h3>\n

(Also known as: Pencil Urchin, Caribbean Mine Urchin)<\/em><\/p>\n

Overview:<\/strong>
The Mine Sea Urchin<\/strong> is a stout-bodied urchin<\/strong> with thick, blunt, cylindrical spines that resemble the spikes of an underwater mine \u2013 hence its common name. Unlike long-spined urchins, its spines are short, strong, and less sharp<\/strong>, making it less dangerous to handle (though still prickly). It\u2019s a slow-moving grazer<\/strong> that contributes to reef cleanup but may sometimes feed on soft corals and sponges.<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>
Native to the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Western Atlantic Ocean<\/strong>, usually found on reefs, rocky substrates, and seagrass beds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Feeding:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Grazes on algae, detritus, and biofilm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    May nibble on sponges, soft corals, or sessile invertebrates<\/strong> in captivity.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Supplement diet with nori, spirulina, or algae wafers<\/strong> if natural growth is insufficient.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    Tank Mates:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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      Generally peaceful<\/strong>, but can be at risk from predators like triggerfish, puffers, or large wrasses<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Best kept with reef-safe fish<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      May not be completely reef safe<\/strong>, as it can eat coralline algae and soft corals<\/strong> if underfed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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      Aggression Level:<\/strong>
      Non-aggressive<\/strong>, but its spines can cause discomfort if touched.<\/p>\n

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      Experience Level:<\/strong>
      Intermediate<\/strong> \u2013 requires a mature tank with consistent algae growth and careful placement to prevent toppling corals.<\/p>\n

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      Water Parameters:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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        Temperature: 72\u201378\u00b0F (22\u201326\u00b0C)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        pH: 8.1\u20138.4<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Salinity: 1.023\u20131.025<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Tank Size: 75+ gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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        Unique Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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          Nicknamed \u201cMine Urchin\u201d<\/strong> due to its resemblance to old naval mines.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Strong, blunt pencil-like spines<\/strong> instead of sharp ones.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Often used in aquariums for algae control<\/strong>, though with caution.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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          \u2728 The Mine Sea Urchin<\/strong> is a hardy and fascinating addition to a marine system, offering both utility as an algae grazer<\/strong> and a unique appearance, though it requires careful reef placement due to its diet.<\/p>\n

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          Would you like me to also prepare a side-by-side comparison<\/strong> of the Mine Urchin vs. the more commonly sold Pencil Urchin (Eucidaris sp.<\/em>)<\/strong> for your store listings?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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          <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Mine Sea Urchin \u2013 Eucidaris tribuloides (Also known as: Pencil Urchin, Caribbean Mine Urchin) Overview:The Mine Sea Urchin is a stout-bodied urchin with thick, blunt, cylindrical spines that resemble the spikes of an underwater mine \u2013 hence its common name. Unlike long-spined urchins, its spines are short, strong, and less sharp, making it less dangerous […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9345,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[79],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-9346","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-urchins","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/9346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=9346"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=9346"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=9346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}