Horseshoe crab

[slitherbomb]

Hi. I just went to my lfs today to buy a clown and along with a percula clown, I left with a free small horseshoe crab. The guy at my lfs said that they eat leftover food but I doubt it and want to make sure how to care for this animal correctly. Thanks.

 

[T.J.]

Those crabs get very large.

 

[austinsdad]

What size tank we talkin?

 

[slitherbomb]

I'm gonna go ahead and say not big enough lol. Right now it's the size of a quarter and I'm going to get a big tank soon, maybe 75g or bigger so the crab will be fine for at least 2-3 years, maybe longer

 

[T.J.]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+614&pcatid=614

They get 24 inches in length and they get very wide. 75 isn't enough at all. It's a cool looking invert.

 

[Bige]

They run constantly and will knock over everything in the tank. But they are cool.

 

[jsmith]

You will eventually have to trade it in.. bit I have one at 50 cent piece and it does just fine maybe a hit or miss.... I know once its larger it will have to go bit for now it's done.

 

[slitherbomb]

What do you feed them though?

 

[jsmith]

They eat the left overs

 

[slitherbomb]

Hopefully mine didn't starve. Haven't seen him in a few days lol

 

[S.gal1122]

Dear slither bomb just wondering how your horseshoe crab is doing we are dealing with the same he is acting very out of character and I am afraid he is going starve I hope yours is still alive but any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[boardsurfer]

I had one for about 7 months and it died. I will never get another one because frankly, they bumped over all my corals and I don't really feel they belong in a tank. I hand-fed mine (target fed him), but they will eat the scraps.

BE CAREFUL because they aren't the smartest creatures on the planet and will wedge themselves between live rock. I saved mine weekly from that, but after vacation I found mine wedged upside down and that's how the little guy died, imo.

 

[Fish madness]

You didn't gave sand in ur tank @boardsurfer?