Horseshoe Crab

I saw them at my LFS and was wondering if about them. I've seen a lot of places that they would get too big for an aquarium. Thoughts and opinions?

 

They do get big and would deplete your sand bed of all the goodies rather quickly.

 

I do have a small one in my 65. He's maybe 1" across. Been in there maybe 2 months and I hardly ever see him. Occationally he surfaces and the PH's blow him all around the tank (I kinda laugh then feel bad for him lol). Once he settles back down, he buries himself again. He does keep the sand bed stirred, which is why I got him. For the $10 I paid, I'm happy with him. Hope that helps.

Jake

 

Problem is that, just like most other sand sifters, horseshoe crabs are actively preying on your live sand infauna- the very thing that makes it live and helps keep it clean. As they grow, so will their tastes until they start feeding on tube worms, shrimp and smaller species of crabs.

Not sure how fast they grow, but they will reach 2 feet at maturity.

 

Yup...They grow pretty quick, and you don't see them much...great sand sifter,and then some !.. but it seemed each time I seen him he was much larger...and when he started getting bigger he was leaving trenches in the sand bed and clouding up the works, not good...so about 3 inches when I traded him in.... in 10 months he grew from the size of a dime to the size of a silver dollar.

 

Jeez. 2 feet is huge. I guess I'll pass. They seem super awesome though. Bummer they get so big.

 

Definitely something that is best left in the ocean.

 

I have one and he is pretty cool. most people say they are likely to starve to death before it ever gets that big. I had feed mine blood worms and hes fine. At a inch and a half, I havent seen any growth since I got him.

 

How old is yours?

 

Ive had him since oct