Tuxedo urchin (Mespilia globulus) care guide

Group
Other invertebrates
Other names
Globe urchin, Sphere urchin, Globular sea urchin, Blue tuxedo urchin, Red tuxedo urchin
Family
Temnopleuridae
Origin
Shallow tropical Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean to Japan; reefs, coral rubble and seagrass, 0–200 m
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
5 cm
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
SG 1.023–1.025, dKH 8–12
Minimum tank
76 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
yes

Care

The tuxedo urchin is a small, round urchin, the only species in its genus. Its body is up to about 5 cm across (LiveAquaria gives up to about 7.5 cm including spines), with short brown, red or dark spines of up to 2 cm in rows, separated by five to ten bare, velvety bands of vivid blue or green, like a dinner jacket. Aquacultured red tuxedo urchins are also sold. Behaviour: it hides in rock crevices by day and comes out at night to graze. It often carries bits of shell, rubble or algae stuck to its spines, probably as camouflage or shade. Set-up: a reef or fish-only tank of at least 76 litres (20 US gallons) with live rock carrying algae. Several can share a large tank if there is enough algae and shelter. Losing spines usually means poor water. Water: 22–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, SG 1.023–1.025, dKH 8–12. Sensitive to high nitrate. Clean-up crew: an excellent grazer of film, hair and soft algae and of the growth on rocks and glass, and it does not grow big enough to bulldoze rockwork like larger urchins. It may pick up and carry small frags and loose shells, so glue frags down. It can starve once algae runs out: add dried seaweed. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and read the label of any treatment, fertiliser or algae remover before use. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/tuxedo-urchin); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mespiliaglobulus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A herbivorous grazer of algae and organic growth on rock and the sea floor. Supplement with dried seaweed (nori) clipped to the rock, algae wafers or blanched greens if algae is scarce.

Breeding

Sexes are separate. It spawns by releasing eggs and sperm into the water, and some brood eggs on their bodies. The larvae are planktonic. It is aquacultured commercially, and some hobbyists have raised it, but it is not easy. Buy aquacultured stock where available.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe and peaceful. Leaves corals, fish and other invertebrates alone, though it may knock over or carry off loose frags. Triggers, puffers and some large wrasses eat urchins, and harlequin shrimp occasionally do when no starfish are available.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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