Horseshoe Crab

[musipilot]

I stopped into a ***** in East Meadow, NY to pick up a power head, and they were in the process of redoing their saltwater section. The only living creature left in their tanks was a horseshoe crab, cute little guy about 2 inches from tip of tail to front of shell. They offered him to me for a buck, I couldn't resist. Anyone know how to keep these guys fed/happy? He went into my 90 gal reef thats just finishing cycle, and disappeared into the sand bed. Thanks.

 

[galina]

I don't know very much but from what i've read, I believe they prefer cooler water in the 60's and that they don't do well in reefs. Hope it works out..
Galina

 

[treble]

I herd they keep the sand bed very clean. But sometimes they dont get enough food and die, looks like you will have enough in your 90 gallon. They get to be around a 12in disk. Maybe you could tempt him with some extra food, some brine shrimp would suit him well.

 

[rockster]

Being related to crabs I would infer they, too, are scavengers. I would offer it small pieces of shrimp meat, mussel meat and see if it accepts. By the way, this is the time when hoards of them come ashore and spawn. I've seen them by the hundreds in long island when we went crabbing. They get big...the size of a dinner plate!

 

[naturelover]

Horseshoe crabs grows upto 6" in diameterbut 2" will do fine in 90 gal for 3yrs. after that you might thing about returning him to your LFS. They are not fast swimmers so they are easy to get sucked into your powerheads. The one in my tank is only 2" and had him for over 2 months. IMO feeding special food is not necessory if you have good LS. They hardly ever come out of sand but when they do come out they are fun to watch.

 

[rmd8110]

the water is too warm in a tank for these guys. they will slowly die. it's a shame the lfs didn't warn you about it. a GOOD lfs won't stock them at all.

 

[musipilot]

Thanks for all your replies...the temperature has me a little worried, but on a few websites they say they're okay up to 75. As far as the LFS warning me about this...hehe, this is the same store where I bought a blue damsel, and an oscar for my son's fresh tank, and they asked me if I wanted them in the same bag. Really. No, really!