Urchin ID

[RUCoralGuy]

So this little guy hitchhiked on some live rock I got from tampa bay. He's grown so rapidly over the past few months its incredible. Can anyone help me out with an ID. The reason im so interested to know what it is, is b/c about 15 mins ago i was staring into my tanks and to my surprise, it released a jet of this dark brown ink like fluid straight out of the top of it. If it had been white, i'd assume it was releasing gametes... but it was chocolatey. Any help?

 

[Anonymous]

Kind of looks like a tux, but that is my best GUESS.

 

[RondaGP]

It's a type of Tripneustes gratilla isn't it?

 

[John_Brandt]

Lytechinus variegatus.

Maybe the brown stuff is poop.

 

[HClH2OFish]

A Kooshball? j/k

It looks kinda like the purple urchins our LFS has in it's tank...but they have alot less legs than this one...

I'll ask em next time I go in if someone doesn't nail it before I get there...

 

[RondaGP]

Lytechinus variegatus.

Maybe the brown stuff is poop.

John already nailed it with his reply.

I was wrong with my guess but I don't think John ever has to guess.

(and it does kinda look like a koosh ball)