ORA Aquacultured Variegated Urchin (Lytechinus variegatus)
$19.99
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ORA Flat Rate Shipping: $99.99. Ships directly from ORA via Overnight Service in insulated packaging with appropriate heat/cold packs. Dispatch Monday–Wednesday only, subject to availability, weather, holidays, and safe shipping conditions. No free-shipping threshold; standard merchandise free-shipping offers do not apply. Contiguous 48 U.S. states and Washington, DC only. ORA livestock may arrive separately from other items. DOA claims and photos are due within 12 hours of delivery; replacement shipping is extra.
Shipping & Delivery
ORA Flat Rate Shipping: $99.99. No free livestock-shipping threshold applies. Standard merchandise free-shipping offers do not apply.
Ships directly from ORA.
Shipping days: Monday–Wednesday only via Overnight Service in insulated packaging with appropriate heat/cold packs. Dispatch is subject to availability, livestock readiness, holidays, safe weather, and carrier conditions. Overnight transit starts after shipment.
Delivery area: Contiguous 48 United States and Washington, DC only. No Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, other U.S. territories, APO/FPO/DPO, PO boxes, or international delivery. These restrictions also apply through Shopify Collective retailers.
Livestock may arrive separately from dry goods, frozen foods, and other livestock sources. Review the final shipping charges shown at checkout.
DOA claims: Contact us immediately and submit clear photographs within 12 hours of carrier-confirmed delivery. Original shipping is nonrefundable; approved replacements require payment of applicable shipping, packaging, and handling. See the Shipping & Live Arrival Policy for documentation, exclusions, and claim review.
ORA Aquacultured Variegated Urchin (Lytechinus variegatus)
Add a hardworking and fascinating grazer to your reef with the ORA Aquacultured Variegated Urchin. Also considered a type of pincushion urchin, Lytechinus variegatus is an effective herbivore that spends its time roaming rockwork and aquarium surfaces in search of nuisance algae. ORA notes that supplemental macroalgae should be provided when the aquarium does not contain enough natural algae to support its grazing.
Native to tropical waters of the Western Atlantic, Variegated Urchins naturally inhabit shallow seagrass flats and sandy environments. Their useful grazing behavior and unusual appearance make them an interesting addition to established marine and reef aquariums.
Care Information
Scientific Name: Lytechinus variegatus
Common Name: Variegated Urchin
Type: Pincushion Urchin
Aquaculture: Aquacultured
Breeder: ORA
Approximate Purchase Size: 1–2 Inches
Maximum Size: Approximately 4 Inches
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Herbivore
Reef Safe: Yes
Recommended Tank Size: 30 Gallons or Larger
Natural Algae Grazer
Variegated Urchins are active herbivores that can help control nuisance algae throughout an established aquarium.
If natural algae becomes limited, supplement their diet with appropriate marine algae or macroalgae to ensure they continue receiving adequate nutrition.
Unique Covering Behavior
One of the coolest things about these guys is their habit of picking up and carrying objects with their tube feet. Small shells, rocks, pieces of macroalgae, and other loose material may end up riding around the aquarium on top of your urchin. ORA notes that this behavior may provide camouflage or protection from UV exposure.
Because of this behavior and their grazing, secure loose coral frags and unstable decorations before introducing an urchin.
Aquarium Care
Provide an established saltwater aquarium with stable water parameters, plenty of grazing surfaces, and sufficient algae or supplemental food.
Like other marine invertebrates, urchins should be carefully acclimated and should not be exposed to copper-based medications.
Aquacultured by ORA
These Variegated Urchins are aquacultured by ORA, which has commercially produced Lytechinus variegatus for the aquarium industry.
This listing is for ONE Variegated Urchin. Coloration and appearance naturally vary, and product photos may show examples rather than the exact individual received. The supplier lists the approximate purchase size as 1–2 inches.