Horseshoe Crab

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revhtree

Aquarium Advice Addict
Joined
Apr 13, 2004
Messages
4,500
Location
Rossville. Ga
Hey all! I got a horseshoe crab today, and by tonight it's gone. Nowhere to be found. Will the HS Crab bury itself completely in the sand where you cant see it? I

The crab is about 1 1/2" long.

How far can it dig down? I have about 4 inces on the bottom.

?Newbie I AM! :oops:

Thanks!!!!!!
 
Horseshoe crabs will dig all the way under the sand in search for food. They eat the critters that keep your sandbed alive. The also grow to about 2 ft in diameter, although you don't have to worry about that, it will starve to death way before then. These critters should be left in the ocean ;)
 
Is there any way to support one? Would a mantis and a hs be a bad match? Just wondering? I'm trying my hardest to convince myself that I don't want a mantis tank without anything else in it. I'm only curious, I'm not on my way out to get anything.
 
I appreciate your opinion Kevin, but is it possible that your wrong. (respectfully)
A friend of mine that has been in the saltwater buisness for 40 yrs said that it would be fine, and live. :wink:
 
The problem is that the HSC will starve after eating everything in your sand band, meaning that it isn't really a good specie to keep in an aquarium. I am not sure about compatability.
 
but is it possible that your wrong

Always, but in this case I am not. Twice a year I see these creatures at the pier, I can send you a skeleton of one that is 12-18" in diameter if you'd like ;)

It is also widely known that they are sand sifters, hence there shovel type shell and they are sand fauna predators.
 
24 hours? NE! said:
Would a mantis and a hs be a bad match? Just wondering? I'm trying my hardest to convince myself that I don't want a mantis tank without anything else in it.

IMO, there are no real good tankmates for a mantis other than something that is much too large for it to kill. Although, I have a urchin in my my mantis for several months now with no problems....
 
Hey again all. I just wanted to clear some things up.

Being new to this great hobby I have found out that that in alot of cases that there are different opinions. Probably 80% of the people I talk to give me different advice than the next guy. I would never want to have something in the tank that would not be able to make it. I would never be cruel like that. On the other hand I wouldnt want to get rid of anything that did'nt have to go.

Kevin: I am very sorry if I offended you with my last post. I have read alot on this forum, and alot that you have said , and take it very seriously. To be honest this site scared the living daylight out of me. My first thought was: What have I got myself into with this saltwater hobby. Needless to say I love it. This is an invaluable forum, and is my life line for help. I honestly believe Kevin that you know what you talking about. I should have written the question differently. Like I explained earlier. Am very sorry if I came across like a Butt!! :oops: I am really an easy going person, and not :evil: most of the time. :lol:

Now as for the HS crab: I have told my wife that it will have to go soon. I am a native of Fla. and visit every year. Every year the beach is full of dead HS crabs. I just didnt know how they did in relation to a tank.

As for my tank: It is about 4 weeks old. It is 75g, 105pds of live rock, and at least a 4 inch cc and sand bottom. I think that I am at the ens of the cycling process. The Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate are all at 0. The salt level is good, and the PH is 8.2.
Is it possible that the tank is at the end of the cycling process? Some rust algae has got preety bad the last couple of days. But I cleaned and did a 15% water change.

Again all, Thanks alot for your advice!! I am sorry if I offended anyone. :wink:

Blessings!
 
If your levels are at zero, sounds like you are at the end of your cycle :wink:
 
Kevin: I am very sorry if I offended you with my last post. I have read alot on this forum, and alot that you have said , and take it very seriously. To be honest this site scared the living daylight out of me. My first thought was: What have I got myself into with this saltwater hobby. Needless to say I love it. This is an invaluable forum, and is my life line for help. I honestly believe Kevin that you know what you talking about. I should have written the question differently. Like I explained earlier. Am very sorry if I came across like a Butt!! I am really an easy going person, and not most of the time.

Please do not think you offended me, I was being honest, there is always the possibility that I am wrong. I found your response very respectful and well worded. If I had someone with 40 years in the hobby telling me it would be fine...I would be questioning an opposing opinion also. No offense was taken, rest assured.

Thought you might find this interesting ;)

Horseshoe crabs are often referred to as "Living Fossils" since the fossil record shows that very similar species existed as far back as 250 million years ago. There are 4 species of horseshoe crab that exist today. 3 of these occur in the waters around India, Japan, and Indonesia. The fourth species, Limulus polyphemus, occurs in the waters along the east coast of North America from Northern Maine to the Yucatan peninsula. 90% of the population lives along the mid-Atlantic coast with the largest concentration along the Delaware Bay. (The species L. polyphemus is assumed throughout the rest of this article.)

The horseshoe crab is not a true crab, it is actually more closely related to the spider. True crabs have 2 pairs of antennae, a pair of mandibles, a pair of claws and four pairs of legs. Horseshoe crabs do not have antennae or mandibles, but do have a pair of small pincers in front for maneuvering food. They also have 5 pairs of legs including 4 pairs with pincers. Horseshoe crabs grind up their food with the base of their legs and push it into their mouths which are located between their legs (image). The horseshoe crab's body is divided into 3 parts: the front dome-shaped prosoma, the middle spine-edged opisthosoma, and the rear spike or telson. The legs are attached to the underside of the prosoma while book gills are attached to the opisthosoma. The telson is used primarily by the crab to flip itself if it gets turned over during spawning (image).

Horseshoe crabs take 9-10 years to reach sexual maturity and can live to be 16-17 years old. They can grow to a length of 2 feet and a weight of 10 pounds. For most of the year they crawl along the bottom of bays and along the continental shelf feeding on marine worms and shellfish.

[url=http://www.wetwebmedia.com/horseshoecrabfaqs.htm said:
wetwebmedia.com[/url]] "Horseshoe crabs are not true crabs at all, but actually much more-closely related to spiders. They are also inappropriate for mixed invertebrate aquariums for many reasons. These "crabs" need to be kept in large, specialized (non-reef) systems that are have great open surface area and sand of depth. Definitely not recommended for casual keeping in small home aquaria with coarse sand and dense rockwork. The most commonly available species, Limulus polyphemus commonly ranges from Nova Scotia down to the Gulf of Mexico and grows to 2' long X 1' wide (60 cm X 30 cm). Several other species are seen in coastal waters from Japan to Indonesia, but do not appear in the US hobby."
Overview of Limulus polyphemus
By any definition, horseshoe crabs are ancient relics of the past. They have not changed much in the last several hundred million years dating back to the pre-Cambrian era (and are closely associated with their fossilized relatives, the Eurypterids). It is no wonder why they are described so often as "pre-historic". The design of their body has facilitated their long survival through the ages with its strategic and fully encompassing hard shell. Limulus are also extremely hardy in the present wild... enduring severe extremes of temperature and salinity. They are also said to be able to suffer seasonal famine and live without food for as much as a year! A year is also about how long it takes for these crabs to starve in mismatched marine aquariums. Too often, horseshoe crabs are placed in small aquaria with lots of live rock and not enough sand to burrow, forage and survive. Mind you that an abundance of live rock is very beneficial for reef aquariums. The problem is that these creatures, though, do not live on the reef proper. They do live near the reef, however, and will thank you very kindly if you provide a large open bed of deep fine sand for them to dig in. It takes perhaps 10 sq. ft per crab of more at >6"/15cm depth). It is interesting to note that horseshoe crabs may stay buried in the sand for days or even several weeks at a time. Let's be very clear that they live or die in captivity by the presence of deep fine sand and mud and the food they find within. We recommend using finely minced clams and clean Tubifex worms (live or thawed frozen) as part of the staple diet for this creature in captivity. Other ocean meats may be taken with equal enthusiasm. Be very mindful of the size and composition of food offered; Limulus have no jaws to chew or crush prey but instead process food with bristles at the base of their walking legs (yes... they must walk to feed, as the food is passed and mashed by these bristles). Although hardy and peaceful in their natural habitat, these "crabs" do not fare well in captivity outside of large, mature specialized aquaria. They tend to linger for some months in captivity, but again, do not survive past a few months with casual care.
Limulus are not true crabs at all, they are rather distant relatives of the spiders, scorpions and even the lowly ticks. Aspects of their phylogenetic relationships are suggestive when you observe their anatomy. The most obvious similarity is their prominent pair of compound eyes. In fact, in addition to the conspicuous pair of compound eyes, these crabs have a second pair of simple eyes on the front side plane of the body. A horseshoe crabs vision is not for feeding however, but for evading predation and finding mates. It is estimated that their range of sight is about 3' (~ 1 meter). Limulus also have 5 pairs of "walking" legs and two specialized pair for feeding and pushing sand, the forward pair on males being distinctly thicker and larger. Perhaps the most distinguishing part of these creatures is their telson (tail). This aspect of their anatomy performs like a rudder for balance and navigation as well as providing ever-important leverage to right themselves from a vulnerable overturned position. Its also quite a formidable weapon (although not its primary purpose) with spines and "timeliness" when thrust erect to ward off a would-be attacker. Despite the armor, horseshoe crabs are in fact rather peaceful creatures. They seem to be fairly indifferent to each other and anything that's not interested in eating them. They are somewhat generalized scavengers that consume many different things strongly preferring polychaete worms and mollusks in the sand. Their natural feeding habits keep them very active at night though in captivity they are willing to feed most anytime of the day if stimulated. This is a large part of the reason why they starve in most aquaria- few are placed into systems with aged, deep mature sand beds that have adequate populations of food organisms to sustain them. It is estimated that Limulus grows approximately 25% with each successive molt for roughly the first decade of life until they reach maturity. Molts occur every 7-10 months naturally.
Reproduction is a bit of a ritual during high tide (full and new moons) in the spring or early summer each year. Droves of Limulus migrate to the shoreline to spawn and lay staggering amounts of tiny green eggs. A large female may lay as many as 20,000 eggs which are deposited in a series of holes that she digs along the water line. Copulation is a bit of an interesting display. The males of this species (characteristically smaller than females by about 30%) grasp a hold of a female as she leaves the water to make this run. They are dragged along as the females climb up the shoreline and fertilize each batch of eggs as they are pulled across each pit dug by a female. Wave action covers over some of these nests but numerous Limulus eggs are contributed to the food web above and below the water (fish, birds, etc). In aquariums, many fish will prey on small and young horseshoe crabs. Their chitinous shells have not become sufficiently hardened and they will suffer from repetitive harassment of even curious fishes like large tangs and angels. It should be no surprise that triggers, puffers and eels will readily predate them. It is also quite unnatural for them to be kept with cnidarians and forced cohabitation will usually lead to Limulus dying in the tentacles of an anemone, or large polyped coral. Keeping these crabs in captivity also has very practical implications for their metabolism and increasing size. Before you purchase one, ask yourself if you have the means to keep them as an adult as 16"- 24" (40-60 cm) if and when they are ten years old? If you plan for a full healthy life and lifespan for this creature as you would for any other household pet like a dog or cat, you will quickly realize the very special needs of this fascinating "crab". Our purpose here is not to discourage the popular keeping of this marine creature, but to discourage the improper keeping of it. In a simple sandy lagoon or shoreline display, Limulus polyphemus are remarkably easy and entertaining to keep.
Horseshoe crabs- beyond aquaristics: Although Limulus polyphemus are still observed in great numbers, natural plights and human activities have impacted their once abundant populations. Some states in the US have established protected Limulus sanctuaries on assigned beaches. These agencies have sadly followed the lead of governing bodies before them forced to protect their natural resources like the Japanese with now endangered Limulus. The US Federal government has even imposed regulations on the bleeding of horseshoe crabs for improved survivability on catch and release. The unique blue blood from horseshoe crabs has been studied for about fifty years for its remarkable medical properties. Research has focused on anti-bacterial and anti-clotting aspects and the substance known to medicine as Limulus amoebocyte lysate (AKA- LAL). An injured crab uses this substance to quickly clot and disinfect a wound. Medical science uses it to verify that human drugs are bacteria-free and safe. Blood harvested for this research is said to fetch $10,000-15,000 per quart! Sounds to us like somebody needs to either discover how to synthesize it, or how to breed Limulus commercially. Horseshoe crabs have other economic and research values. Their eyes have been studied to enhance our understanding of how the human eye works. Chitin (chitosan) in their shells can be used to manufacture contact lenses and cosmetics and is also said to have nutritive value in homeopathic treatments. Commercially is has been used as a metal sponge in waste water treatment, and medically is can be used to make hypo-allergenic sutures for surgery. Numerous other uses are being researched from this unassuming yet valuable creature. Conservation starts at home as they say. As aquarists, please be mindful of your contribution to the use of this precious living resource. Good aquarium husbandry of this and any animal we keep serves the species through improved awareness and understanding.
Fenner and Calfo 2003
 
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