Tuxedo Urchin

About

The tuxedo urchin (Mespilia globulus) is one of the more visually interesting urchins you can keep in a reef tank, and it earns its name well. The body is divided into distinct alternating bands of deep blue or black and lighter segments, giving it that dressed-up, formal look that sets it apart from the plain purple or black urchins most people picture. In the wild, this species is found across the Indo-Pacific, picking its way across reef flats and rubble zones where it grazes on algae and encrusting growth. In the aquarium, that same grazing behavior makes it genuinely useful. It will work over rockwork and glass, keeping nuisance algae in check without the destructive tendencies of larger urchin species. Like most urchins, it has a habit of picking up bits of shell, rubble, or even frag plugs and carrying them around, which is entertaining once you know to expect it. It is generally considered a good fit for newer reef keepers, as it is hardy and tolerant of typical reef conditions as long as water quality is stable. Avoid housing it with aggressive fish that might harass or flip it.