Horseshoe Crabs

[n3ont3tra]

I've always liked horseshoe crabs ever since my dad caught one when I was 6 years old. The ones he caught were big, probably a foot without the tail. I see liveaquaria is selling them and they say the max size is two feet. I'm wondering - does anyone know if they really do get to two feet, and how long does it take? Also, what do they eat?

 

[SkiFletch]

They're scavengers and yes, they will get that big. IMO, horseshoe crabs dont belong in most home aquariums. Those touch pools they have at public aquariums are suitable, but those things have a footprint bigger than a bed...

 

[amstar15]

mine was a quater in size. Then it molted an more than doubled it size. it is a very strong creature able to turn large rocks and knock over corals. The horse-shoe crab has a hug appetite and turned my live sand into dead sand (so to speak) cool to watch, cool to have, but as ski said, not good for an aquarium. i gave mine up to the newport aquarium in kentucky.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Okay, thanks. Definately won't be getting one, then.

 

[raptorrex]

I've always liked horseshoe crabs ever since my dad caught one when I was 6 years old. The ones he caught were big, probably a foot without the tail. I see liveaquaria is selling them and they say the max size is two feet. I'm wondering - does anyone know if they really do get to two feet, and how long does it take? Also, what do they eat?

http/www.horseshoecrab.org/
take a look here. perhaps they are best left in the wild. there are only 4 types, and they are all endangered. perhaps not the best choice for a hobby critter. however you may be able to help the ones in the wild.

 

[andywg]

While I know that the OP has (quite rightly IMO) decided to not get one, it is perhaps worth noting two problems with keeping horseshoes:

1) They feed from live sand, and seing as they get up to 1 foot wihtout tails, they eat a lot. It is very difficult to supply enough food.

2) The most common ones that end up in the trade are coldwater specimins, so do not do well in our tanks, even if the tank is unheated.

 

[Die_Grinder]

they never last more than about 8month in tanks as most tanks have too little of a sand be, they use up the food source and then die.

leave them well alone IMO

DG