Help, Please

[inawe]

My sister, meaning to surprize me, did just that...she bought me a horseshoe crab. He's a cute little thing, but I hadn't really planned on one of these and since being intro'd into the tank, has spent a lot of time upside down running his little legs off trying to get right side up. And when he tries to swim, if he goes too high, he gets caught in the current from the ph and flies. I'm not sure what to do... is this normal or will he learn to stay down and out of the current? I've temporarily turned off my ph until I can figure it out as I don't want him stressed out.
Any help will be most appreciated.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Considering they live a large majority of their lives in the substrate, id consider this behaviour odd, and deffinately not normal for the species. Was it doing this when she bought it? What are the parameters of your tank? What size is your tank etc? Gifts are nice, but you need to know what your buying before you buy it, perhaps a gift crertificate would be better next time? Try and drop hints, LOL.

 

[inawe]

Considering they live a large majority of their lives in the substrate, id consider this behaviour odd, and deffinately not normal for the species. Was it doing this when she bought it? What are the parameters of your tank? What size is your tank etc? Gifts are nice, but you need to know what your buying before you buy it, perhaps a gift crertificate would be better next time? Try and drop hints, LOL.

Tank is a 37g. My prams are good...
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Ammonia 0
pH 8.2
Water temp 78

 

[SkiFletch]

While your chemistry sounds fine, your tank has nowhere near a large enough footprint to keep a horseshoe crab. Remember, that little guy you have in your tank now can grow to have a 1 foot diameter shell or larger. Horseshoe crabs need to be limited to BIG tanks with BIG footprints, think in the 220g and higher range. Tell your sister thank you, but he's gotta go back

 

[andywg]

Also remember that the most common species of horseshoe crab in the hobby is not a tropical species either. It is a coldwater species.

Bob Fenner has some good information on his site when answering other people's questions on horseshoe crabs: http/www.wetwebmedia.com/horseshoecrabfaqs.htm

 

[inawe]

Also remember that the most common species of horseshoe crab in the hobby is not a tropical species either. It is a coldwater species.

Bob Fenner has some good information on his site when answering other people's questions on horseshoe crabs: http/www.wetwebmedia.com/horseshoecrabfaqs.htm

Thanks, ya'll, for the help. I'm going to see if the lfs will trade him back for something else. He's as cute as he can be, and my daughter already named him Dexter, but I think we'll have to have a Dexter that looks like something else!

 

[Brenden]

Post a picture before you return it! I remember having one of these (dead) in my old science class room long time ago looked pretty cool.