Horseshoe Crab

[robertfah]

I just bought a small horseshoe crab for my tank the other day and it seems to be doing ok in my tank. I've got a 155g with about 150lbs of LS and another 50+lbs of LR with 1 Torch Anemone and 1 Rose BTA. He shouldn't bother my BTA and Torch right?

Also, I have a dwarf lobster but he shouldn't be any harm to him right?

He's basically sunken himself in the sand and I see his trails on where he's been every morning, but he doens't surface much.

[roka64]

A 155G isn't big enough for them, IMO. They grow to about 2 feet and looks like they need lots of room to swim. I saw them at a public aquarium and they are awesome, but looking at their size, most aquariums, nuder 300G are not really suitable, JMHO.

[Lance M.]

I've also heard that they need huge tanks to survive long term just like roka64 said.

They aren't suitable for the average hobbyist and usually starve to death in small tanks.

I was walking along the beach once and saw this HUGE horseshoe crab washed up dead. It was at least 2 feet long. And they actually are not crabs, they are closer to spiders and other arachnids.

[melosu58]

I also agree with the acessment of the horseshoe crab as He will quickly outgrow your tank as well as knock things over and reak havoc in your tank. What type Lobster do you have? I have this one

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=555

I`ve never seen him out enough to photograph him.

[Devilishturtles]

I agree with the others. Don't expect him to last too long in your tank. They go through your sandbed and eat all they can out of it, then when there is no more they will starve. I'd also look into securing your rockwork so you don't come home to a flooded room. They will dig and have the potential to knock it over and crack your glass.

IMO, LFS's shouldn't even sell these guys.

[roka64]

Originally Posted by Devilishturtles

LFS's shouldn't even sell these guys.

I totally agree. They are REALLY cool though.

[robertfah]

WOW.....seems like I missed this one by a mile huh? LOL The guys at the LFS said they would eat all the crap in the sand, but didn't tell me he would get so big though, otherwise I never would have bought him. He's only about 1& 1/2 inches long (his shell) so he's pretty small now, but if he grows at a significant rate, I'll be in trouble.

I bought him mainly because I'm having a coraline algae problem on the top of my sand bed. I've got 15 or so misc. red legged crabs and scarlet crabs too, but they're not keeping up with the progress of the algae. It's a purple color and definately not Cyano or bubble hair (I've had that and know what it looks like).

[lando]

Horseshoe crabs are a poor choice for any home aquarium...sorry. They will quickly consume the fauna in your sand bed and end up starving. They also have a tendency to topple rockwork and damage tanks and corals. I would bring it back to the LFS before the lobster gets it.

bought him mainly because I'm having a coraline algae problem on the top of my sand bed. I've got 15 or so misc. red legged crabs and scarlet crabs too, but they're not keeping up with the progress of the algae. It's a purple color and definately not Cyano or bubble hair (I've had that and know what it looks like).

Interesting...I have never heard of coralline growing on the sand bed before. I guess it is entirely possible. Are you sure it is not cyno? What happens to it when it is disturbed?

[scoot15638]

i bought a baby horseshoe crab, and put him in a 20 gallon for a year, he was fine, until i gave him away because i took the tank down, im sure he will be fine, remember every animal dies eventually.

[Devilishturtles]

But why should animals that normally live for decades die within a year or so just because we provide the wrong habitat for them?