anyone have horseshoe crabs?

motlot77 · 01/30/2007, 04:01 PM

they use for stirring their sand bed? i saw them at my lfs and they sure are awesome!

i figure they probably chomp down on pods though, which i take it is not something you want.

any thoughts?

LBForce57 · 01/30/2007, 04:32 PM

I had one a few years back when I started out in the hobby. I had it in a 100g tank with a DSB and Im sorry to say that he didn't last more than about two months. Unfortunatly they are not really suited for anything but the very largest of tanks. My guess is much larger than the one I had him in, with a very large open sand bed that can support them and the food that they eat.

He did however do a good job of stirring the sand until he would wedge himself under something and I would have to re-arrange the tank to get him out, which did seem to happen quite often.

everl0ng · 01/30/2007, 04:33 PM

i believe they get pretty big and can knock over your rocks if not secured. i also heard that they will pretty much starve in a captive environment, whether this is true or no i don't know?

everl0ng · 01/30/2007, 04:34 PM

i wouldn't recommend one in your 20H though

pottsburg · 01/30/2007, 04:35 PM

They need huge tanks with alot of clearance for being able to turn around. The tails on them are long and don't move much.

bigevill1 · 01/30/2007, 04:35 PM

I had one for over 2 year in my tank when it was a FOWLR. It was a 150 gallon tank and it grew some while it was there. One day I came home and noticed he was wedged in some rock in the back of the tank and he was dead. They supposedly eat worms that live in the sand bed, and mine never came out to eat, so I assume he was eating something.

motlot77 · 01/30/2007, 04:45 PM

that's too bad...i really like those guys.

maybe some day when i have my 10,000 gal tank that i swim in...

01/30/2007, 04:01 PM	#1
motlot77 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: bay area Posts: 355	anyone have horseshoe crabs? they use for stirring their sand bed? i saw them at my lfs and they sure are awesome! i figure they probably chomp down on pods though, which i take it is not something you want. any thoughts?

01/30/2007, 04:33 PM	#3
everl0ng Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Lima, OH Posts: 782	i believe they get pretty big and can knock over your rocks if not secured. i also heard that they will pretty much starve in a captive environment, whether this is true or no i don't know? __________________ Nick Kohrn Current Tank Info: Mixed NC24

01/30/2007, 04:34 PM	#4
everl0ng Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Lima, OH Posts: 782	i wouldn't recommend one in your 20H though __________________ Nick Kohrn Current Tank Info: Mixed NC24

01/30/2007, 04:35 PM	#5
pottsburg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 179	They need huge tanks with alot of clearance for being able to turn around. The tails on them are long and don't move much. __________________ "All thinking men are atheists." Ernest Hemingway Current Tank Info: 20L with 20lbs of LR, 20lbs of sand, 192watts of PC lighting.

01/30/2007, 04:35 PM	#6
bigevill1 Big and Evil Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Schererville Indiana Posts: 2,427 Blog Entries: 5	I had one for over 2 year in my tank when it was a FOWLR. It was a 150 gallon tank and it grew some while it was there. One day I came home and noticed he was wedged in some rock in the back of the tank and he was dead. They supposedly eat worms that live in the sand bed, and mine never came out to eat, so I assume he was eating something. __________________ Evil will always win because Good is dumb. Current Tank Info: 210 gal mixed reef

01/30/2007, 04:32 PM	#2
LBForce57 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 28	I had one a few years back when I started out in the hobby. I had it in a 100g tank with a DSB and Im sorry to say that he didn't last more than about two months. Unfortunatly they are not really suited for anything but the very largest of tanks. My guess is much larger than the one I had him in, with a very large open sand bed that can support them and the food that they eat. He did however do a good job of stirring the sand until he would wedge himself under something and I would have to re-arrange the tank to get him out, which did seem to happen quite often.

01/30/2007, 04:45 PM	#7
motlot77 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: bay area Posts: 355	that's too bad...i really like those guys. maybe some day when i have my 10,000 gal tank that i swim in... __________________ "I don't trust or love anyone. Because people are so creepy. Creepy creepy creeps. Creeping around. Creeping here and creeping there. Creeping everywhere. Crippity crappity creepies." Current Tank Info: 25 gal tall, 2 x 65w pc, aqua c remora hob skimmer, fluval for flow and carbon