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FAQs about Horseshoe Crabs, Selection
Related FAQs: Horseshoe
Crabs 1, Horseshoe Crabs 2, &
FAQs on: Horseshoe Crab ID, Horseshoe Crab
Behavior, Horseshoe Crab Compatibility,
Horseshoe Crab Systems, Horseshoe Crab Feeding,
Horseshoe Crab
Disease, Horseshoe Crab Reproduction,
& Crustaceans 1,
Micro-Crustaceans, Amphipods,
Copepods, Mysids, Hermit Crabs, Shrimps,
Cleaner Shrimps, Banded
Coral Shrimp, Mantis Shrimp, Anemone
Eating Shrimp,
Related Articles: Horseshoe
Crabs: Latter Day Trilobites for Some Systems &
Crustaceans, Micro-Crustaceans,
Amphipods, Copepods, Mysids,
Isopods, Shrimps, Coral
Banded Shrimp, Cleaner Shrimp, P.
holthuisi Pix, Mantis
"Shrimp", Lobsters, Slipper
Lobsters, Hermit
Crabs, Squat Lobsters, Crabs, Arthropods,
Pycnogonids (Sea Spiders),
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About the only thing not likely eaten |
Horseshoe crab 7/4/08
This is for Bob Fenner, or if Bob is not there, then hello to whomever is
helping me today. I have had my horseshoe crab, "Dozer", short for bull dozer,
for several years now. He is getting kinda big for my 55 gallon salt water
aquarium. He is about 4 inches wide. I only have one rock and some barnacle
shells in the bottom. The bottom is mostly sand. I have been thinking about
letting him go in the wild where I have seen several adult horseshoe crabs. Is
this a good idea?
<Mmm, no>
The last time I returned a fish to my LFS it died there so I don't want dozer to
have the same fate. I figure he would have a better chance in the wild. What do
you think?
<That in all (not just the majority) cases, returning any life to the wild is a
poor idea>
Secondly, I am wondering what is the best creature to get to stir up my sand
substrate?
I have three percula clown fish, two of them are breeding. I have two light blue
damsel fish, a cleaner shrimp, a Brownbarred / Banded Goby, a small crab not
sure what type, and some feather dusters.
Thank you, and I look forward to your response.
Kathy
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/maintenance/index.htm
the third tray down. Bob Fenner>
Nature is like a spider web - if you pull on one string, you affect everything
else in it
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
<Good spiels... I'd add, "think about the environment before you reproduce">
Re: horseshoe crab 7/4/08
Ok, I am wondering then what can I do with dozer, he is disturbing
my clownfish, knocking everything over in the tank. I, like many other
people, was told that dozer would only grow to a certain size and then
stop growing (probably they meant that he would just die, but did not
want to tell me that).
<Mmm, yes... a fallacy that seems to be perpetuated forever>
Now the poor guy is stuck in a 55 gallon tank, and I am sure that he is
going to shed again soon, and that is when the real trouble will begin.
Should I find a LFS that will take him, I know of one about an hour away
that has some very big tanks. I am sure that he would be happy for
awhile there, if they feed him.
<Yes... Craigslist as well is worth listing this animal in>
I donated one horseshoe crab that got large, like this one, to the Miami
sea aquarium. But they kept him in the same size tank and used him for
educating children about sealife. Does not sound like the kind of life I
want for this guy.
<Alternatives?>
I realize now that buying a horseshoe crab was a mistake, but I need to
find a better place for dozer and need advice on what is the best thing
to do for Dozer.
Thank you for your help.
Kathy
<Thank you for sharing. It's not just/only non-indigenous species that I
and others are and should be concerned with... even returning native
species to environments they hail from entails risks... principally of
introduction of pathogens, vectors. Bob Fenner>
Re: horseshoe crab
7/4/08
Well we will see, I have posted Dozer on Craig's list, I have no idea if
anyone serious will be interested, so we will see. I will only give him
to someone who has a large established tank, and who knows how to care
for him.
<Good>
If I don't get anyone interested I will take my chances and try to find
a suitable place in the wild for him
<Please... don't do this... see my prev. email>
as I think that would be better than being cooped up and starving in a
small tank. If I did not have any fish I would keep him, but I am afraid
that he will eat my fish one day. He eats my snails that I get to
control the algae, so I don't buy them anymore.
He is just too big for me to keep. I certainly will not get another,
even though I love to watch him and find the species very interesting.
Kathy
<Ah yes. B> |
Horseshoe Crab selection, systems 1/17/06
Ok, first off I have to say I did not do an extensive amount of
research on horseshoe crabs before I bought one (and now I regret that very
much). I went to one site that said they were easy to keep and ate matter in the
substrate. With
this lazy-man information I went to my local fish store and picked one up. In
my obsession with my new horseshoe crab I decided to do more research and came
upon this site (which I might add is very helpful). I feel really bad for my
horseshoe crab, I fear he will starve.
<Most do>
I have only a 55 gallon tank, and about half the sand bed is covered with
rock. The temp is usually kept at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, I'm aiming to lower it
(would 75-76 degrees be good or still too warm?).
<If this is a/the (typical) coldwater species, (the Atlantic U.S....) yes>
His tank mates are one scooter blenny, one royal Gramma, two peppermint
shrimp, one emerald crab, and about a dozen types of snails and maybe ten
scarlet reef hermits. As I now see I believe I cannot support one of these
creatures with my sand bed alone like the site said (oh yeah, my sand is sugar
fine and about 2"-3" deep, as of now the horseshoe crab is about 1.5" across and
.5" tall) I'm also worried about his health in the present, let alone
starvation in the future. When I first introduced him he had
trouble getting under the sand, he would go in half way, and then come out
again.
<Good description>
He was also very clumsy, crashing into walls and the rock and sometimes
flips himself over. I woke up this morning, watched him a bit, and he was
finally able to get under the sand, but he's not moving, I can see the lump
where he is
and he hasn't moved for about 2 hours. Is this normal?
<Do have periods of long senescence>
Any way, if he
does survive *fingers crossed*, is there a way I can possibly feed him
manually by putting food under his shell?
<Can be tried>
Any other suggestions on feeding are welcome, and what can I feed him to
supplement his diet of worms other things in the sand that will be healthy?
Thanks for your help!
<What little I know re the captive husbandry of these ancient arthropods is
posted on WWM. Bob Fenner>
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