{"product_id":"tidal-gardens-captive-bred-red-tuxedo-urchins","title":"Tidal Gardens Captive Bred Red Tuxedo Urchins","description":"\u003ch2\u003eCaptive-Bred Red Tuxedo Urchin\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMespilia globulus\u003c\/em\u003e | Captive-Bred Reef Aquarium Algae Grazer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA tuxedo urchin in formal wear, raised from scratch.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese aren’t your typical wild-collected clean-up crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nIn 2026, \u003cstrong\u003eThan Thein and the team at Tidal Gardens\u003c\/strong\u003e set out to do something considerably more complicated than simply spawning a marine invertebrate: they wanted to raise \n\u003cstrong\u003eTuxedo Urchins (\u003cem\u003eMespilia globulus\u003c\/em\u003e) completely in captivity\u003c\/strong\u003e, from egg and sperm through their bizarre planktonic larval stages and finally into the tiny algae-grazing urchins we know and love.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThey succeeded.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe result is a new generation of \u003cstrong\u003e100% captive-bred Tuxedo Urchins\u003c\/strong\u003e, raised at Tidal Gardens from their own spawning adults rather than collected from a natural reef.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nAnd fortunately for the rest of us, they documented the adventure.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFrom microscopic aliens to algae-eating machines\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nTuxedo Urchins are broadcast spawners. Adults release eggs and sperm into the water, but fertilization is only the beginning. The developing young spend part of their lives as tiny, free-swimming planktonic larvae that look almost nothing like an urchin.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nTidal Gardens' project involved collecting eggs and sperm separately, controlled fertilization, rinsing the fertilized eggs, following embryonic development under magnification, raising the resulting larvae in dedicated systems, culturing phytoplankton to feed them, managing water quality and water changes, and then getting the larvae through the difficult transition from plankton to settled juvenile urchins.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nTheir first breeding video follows the developing larvae through some wonderfully strange stages that look more like microscopic aliens than future algae grazers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWatch the Tidal Gardens breeding story\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePart 1 — SUIT UP! The Tuxedo Urchins Are Spawning!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nTidal Gardens documents spawning, egg and sperm collection, fertilization, embryo development, phytoplankton feeding and larval culture.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NLDmhkkPFdU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\nWatch Tidal Gardens Tuxedo Urchin Breeding — Part 1\n\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePart 2 — How I Bred a Tiny Army of Tuxedo Urchins\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe story continues as the larvae develop and the project produces actual captive-bred juvenile Tuxedo Urchins.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CHJgN6nP9ds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\nWatch Tidal Gardens Tuxedo Urchin Breeding — Part 2\n\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nYou can also visit \n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/tidalgardens.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\nTidal Gardens\n\u003c\/a\u003e\nand their \n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/tidalgardens.com\/stock-tuxedo-urchin-juvenile-20-pack.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\nAquacultured Tuxedo Urchin page\n\u003c\/a\u003e\nto learn more about their breeding project.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTiny urchin. Serious appetite.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe breeding story is impressive, but Tuxedo Urchins also happen to be exceptionally useful aquarium animals.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTuxedo Urchins are active marine herbivores and excellent additions to a reef aquarium clean-up crew.\u003c\/strong\u003e\nThey continually graze rockwork and other hard surfaces, feeding on algae and algal films as they move throughout the aquarium.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nTheir grazing can include \u003cstrong\u003emicroalgae, diatoms, young hair algae, macroalgae, algal films and coralline algae\u003c\/strong\u003e.\nJuvenile Tuxedo Urchins are particularly useful because their smaller size allows them to work around rockwork and between coral colonies where larger herbivores may have difficulty reaching.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nTuxedo Urchins remain relatively compact compared with many other marine urchins, typically reaching approximately \u003cstrong\u003e2–3 inches as adults\u003c\/strong\u003e.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAnd yes, they really do wear things.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nTuxedo Urchins have a natural habit of picking up pieces of shell, rubble, algae and other loose objects and carrying them around as camouflage.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nIn a reef aquarium, this occasionally means an adventurous urchin may decide that an unsecured zoanthid frag is this season’s must-have accessory.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSecure loose frags. Your urchin has no respect for ownership.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy captive-bred matters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nThese animals began life \u003cstrong\u003ein an aquarium, not on a coral reef\u003c\/strong\u003e.\nTidal Gardens produced them from captive spawning adults, raised the planktonic larvae on cultured phytoplankton and successfully settled the juveniles within their aquaculture facility.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nFor aquarium stores and reef keepers looking for \u003cstrong\u003ecaptive-bred marine invertebrates, aquacultured clean-up crew animals and effective reef aquarium algae grazers\u003c\/strong\u003e, projects like this represent an exciting direction for marine aquaculture.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCare at a glance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eMespilia globulus\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red Tuxedo Urchin \/ Tuxedo Urchin\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Captive bred by Tidal Gardens, USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Herbivore \/ algae grazer\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUseful for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Film algae, microalgae, diatoms, young hair algae, macroalgae and general rockwork grazing\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdult size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 2–3 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReef compatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reef appropriate; generally gentle compared with many larger urchin species\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBehaviour:\u003c\/strong\u003e May pick up loose rubble, shells, algae and unsecured coral frags as camouflage\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupplemental feeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nori or other marine algae can be offered when natural algae is limited\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAcclimation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow acclimation recommended; echinoderms are sensitive to rapid changes in salinity and water chemistry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eImportant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Do not expose urchins to coral dips or pest-control treatments unless the product is specifically confirmed safe for echinoderms. Many commonly used coral treatments can be harmful or fatal to urchins.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCaptive bred. Reef raised. Professionally dressed. Extremely hungry.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nFor reef aquariums that need an effective \u003cstrong\u003ealgae-eating herbivore\u003c\/strong\u003e, these Tidal Gardens captive-bred Red Tuxedo Urchins offer something unusual: an excellent clean-up crew animal with a genuinely remarkable aquaculture story behind it.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cpre dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003ccode\u003e\u003c\/code\u003e\u003c\/pre\u003e","brand":"Reef Wholesale","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67110236848369,"sku":"CB Mespila globulus red","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8309\/4513\/files\/SuaveToastAmongCosmicPlankton.png?v=1790969691","url":"https:\/\/saltwaterfishvictoria.ca\/products\/tidal-gardens-captive-bred-red-tuxedo-urchins","provider":"Saltwater Fish Victoria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}