Horseshoe crabs

[skrimpz]

Hi,
Does anybody know a great deal about the horseshow crabs, do they only get 1-2 inches? also i know they dig in sand, but what about cc. I know many of you suggest the sand i will probely convert eventually but the tank is my mothers and i (still live w/ parents) and it was before i knew sand was better. Can they live with cc? Thanx

 

[lefty]

Horseshoe crabs normally don't live too long in home aquariums. They eat all of the beneficial organisms in your tank (more specifically in the sand, which you don't have). They also get much bigger than a couple inches--I've heard they'll get over a foot. But I doubt it'll live long enough to get that big. I'm not even sure why they're still sold...but anyway, another big issue is they get caught in powerheads easily, too.
-lefty

 

[skrimpz]

Ok thanx, i figured many people didnt keep them or else i would here more about them. I was just wondering when looking throuhg the inverts avail. on this site

 

[duke13]

I've had one in my 40 gal for a year, never had a problem with him and he in no way has depleted my sand bed. They do get pretty big though, I would estimate about 6-8 inches in diameter (and that would be in captivity). Definitely a critter for larger tanks.

 

[sammiefish]

Ive pulled these things out of long island sound (new york) about 2 feet long... while walking in about 2 feet of water
I wonder.... are these a colder water species or do you find them in the tropics... or even as far south a florida? Maybe they dont survive too long because of the water temp usually found in a tank.. I know the water temp in LI sound never gets as high as 75 or 80 deg F....

 

[snipe]

On the site I use to look at inverts sais they get up to around 1' 2"

 

[ophiura]

Originally posted by sammiefish
Ive pulled these things out of long island sound (new york) about 2 feet long... while walking in about 2 feet of water
I wonder.... are these a colder water species or do you find them in the tropics... or even as far south a florida? Maybe they dont survive too long because of the water temp usually found in a tank.. I know the water temp in LI sound never gets as high as 75 or 80 deg F....
Nope, they are definitely a temperate water species - not a reef animal at all. This is why they are better for species tanks with appropriate substrate, flow and temperature. Most that end up in this hobby do not survive long. In species tanks they can do quite well.

 

[blemmy_guy]

Nicely put Ophiura... Thats the one critter in my tank i wish i hadnt bought. I have 2 of them and i will soon be sending them back to the lfs. there really cool, but i feel bad that theres not too much for them to eat and there so vulnarable. Good luck either way. Todd

 

[darthmatt]

they do live in florida also. We used to find them snorkeling in the Florida Keys. matt

 

[wwfstyle]

DO NOT GET ! !!! I had mine which was about 5" and it died after having him for 5 months or less. I have seen a 9" in a tank but I have read that they can get up to 20". Why buy something that you will never see? He will be buried in the cc or sucked up into your power heads. I know they are pretty cool looking but why waste the $. This hobby is expensive don't just thro it around.

 

[ophiura]

It is true that they can be found actually quite far south but the major population density and breeding grounds are in Maryland/Virginia....significantly cooler than our tanks. Definitely haven't seen them on Caribbean reefs, though I will gladly go back for further study.