Sea Urchin Appears Dead?

[BriGuy]

I am thinking the little guy died today, Royal Urchin about the size of a golf ball. Currently the blue is faded to a grey, and he\she\it is losing tentacles to the crabs. I can't find anything about them molting or anything like that so pretty sure he is dead. I just don't want to pitch him if this is not the case? Any help out there? Water properties look good, no other problems in the tank that I can see. Let me know if picture would help or not and I can post one up.

Thanks,
BriGuy

[jrsatx20]

pic caN help. large hermits will cut off the spines lost 1 to that. the only way i know of to make sure he is dead is to pick him up and look at the mouth and see if it is still moving. my 2nd had some of the spines cut off but made it out okay.

[tropheusmaster]

dont they usually stay stuck to objects? he he stuck to anything

[BriGuy]

Alright picked him up and no movement from mouth and has lost more spine. Pretty sure he is a goner, will give it another hour then remove him. Thanks for the information.

Thanks,
BriGuy

[jrsatx20]

keep shell for looks interesting with all spines gone. i seen pods populate in it nothing can get to them there

[BriGuy]

So should I just leave him in there then?

BriGuy

[Kristy]

No... definitely not!

The dying flesh will pollute your tank. I think the suggestion is to see what remains after the skeleton is all bleached out and the bio matter has died off.

[jrsatx20]

ya no take him out he will pollute the water really bad. pull him out n smell him he will smell to high heaven.

[BriGuy]

Alright he is out of there now. Thanks again to all.

B