Shrimp, Snails, and Crabs
Mediterranean Purple Sea Urchin
Paracentrotus lividus
Photo: Frédéric Ducarme · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Temperature12–24 °C
- pH8.1–8.4
- Adult size7 cm
- Difficulty★★☆☆☆
- TemperamentPeaceful
- WaterMarine
- Reef safeYes
Full profile
- Family
- Parechinidae
- Origin
- Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic
- Size
- 6 – 7 cm
- Temperature
- 12 – 24°C
- pH
- 8.1 – 8.4
- Salinity
- 1.025 – 1.028
- Difficulty
- ★★☆☆☆
- Water type
- marine
- Behavior
- peaceful
- Diet
- herbivore (algae)
- Reproduction
- releases gametes
- Reef Safe
- ✅ Yes (Mediterranean aquarium)
Notes: The common Mediterranean sea urchin, violet or brown in color. A voracious algae eater in cold-water aquariums. Its harvest is regulated.
