Black Urchin Turning Red???

[count dracula]

This seems strange to me. I have had this Diadema setosum in my tank for 5+ years named Fluffy. When I got fluffy the body was the size of a big marble and it had very long thin black spines. The body has been getting steadily larger (now racketball sized) and the spines are shorter and thicker. This morning it was on the front glass as usual and I noticed the whole area around the base is a deep wine red color. Fluffy is very active and moves around quite a bit and keeps the algae off the rocks nicely. Do they change colors? Is this a bad sign? I'd hate to loose the little critter. Unfortunately it skeetered back behind the rockpile before i could get a pic. I'll try later on if needed.

Tank is a 90 Gallon FOWLR loaded with pods. Fish look ok, coral banded shrimp looks ok too. No changes recently other than temp is up a bit running between 81-82 most days and an ocassional trip up to 83 for a couple hours on the really hot days lately.

 

[Damsel13]

bet it's the heat dracula

 

[count dracula]

Not quite sure what to think about this now. Fluffy seems to be back to normal... well whatever normal is for an urchin. I'm guessing either the heat or maybe i've got a patch of cyano someplace i can't see and he dragged his feet through it. At anyrate we are back to a normal color and activity level is good and no lost spines so I guess I'm going to go look for something else to worry about!!