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FAQs about Horseshoe Crabs, Disease
Related FAQs: Horseshoe
Crabs 1, Horseshoe Crabs 2, &
FAQs on: Horseshoe Crab ID, Horseshoe Crab
Behavior, Horseshoe Crab Compatibility,
Horseshoe Crab Selection,
Horseshoe Crab Systems,
Horseshoe Crab Feeding, 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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Horseshoe Crab/Health 2/9/07
I'm hoping you can help me out.
<Hope so, Deborah>
I have a 90 gallon well-established salt tank that currently houses five
yellow-tail damsels, a striped damsel, and a horseshoe crab. We have had
the damsels for almost two years and the horseshoe crab for almost a year
now. We were lucky enough to watch our horseshoe crab molt and got to save
the shell (see attachments). We are currently fixing a poisonous algae
problem and I think it has affected the horseshoe crab. I found her upside
down under one of the filters this morning and thought she was dead. When I
netted her and brought her to the surface, her gills were moving but very
slowly. I put her in an isolation/hatching net (see attachments) and saw
that she improved quickly. Her tail is snapped at the end which I realize
she will likely regenerate during her next molt. Finally, I am getting to
the point of my letter. I don't want to release her until this evening when
the bulk of the algae is cleaned but, she has other plans. In her attempts
to free herself from the isolation box, she keeps landing on her back and
can't right herself because of the snap in her tail. I have spent the
better part of the morning flipping her back over. Do you think it's safe
to release her? How long can she stay on her back safely? Thanks so much,
in advance, for any help you can provide.
<I'd leave the crab in isolation until health improves, eating, righting
itself. Having gravel in the isolation tank will help it
right itself. If you have treated the tank with an algae inhibitor, this
very well could have affected the crab's health.
Read FAQ's here and linked files above. Learn here from the experiences of
other Horseshoe Crab keepers.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/horseshoecrabfaqs.htm James (Salty Dog)>
Deborah |
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Re: Horseshoe Crab/Health 2/9/07
Thanks so much for sending such a fast response.
<You're welcome.>
It's nice to know that there are volunteers taking the time to help
those of us who need it especially when the same LFS who sell these
little guys know nothing about them. I ended up releasing the crab late
last night because the tank bottom was cleaned. A few months ago we
found that our substrate was too thick resulting in not enough aeration
and it was causing spots of anaerobic bacteria throughout the tank.
<Yes, can/will happen.>
We removed a lot of the substrate and the problem slowly
subsided. Harry (the horseshoe crab)
<Skinhead would have been a better name:)>
also helped with that because she constantly moved the
substrate. Recently, the same bacteria came back with a vengeance and
we were concerned that Harry would be affected. We were told by our LFS
that we should replace our lights. I have been telling my husband this
for months. Now, its just a waiting game. Harry seems to be holding
her own but insists on staying directly beneath one of our filters. As
for your response to
my original email, we don't use algae inhibitors because normally our
tank produces just enough of the good algae to keep our fish happy.
<My concern here is the chemical make-up of some of these products that
can affect the health of invertebrates.>
I wish I could have put gravel in the isolation tank. It would have
kept me from spending the day flipping Harry over. Its a net tank and
just can't handle the extra weight of any gravel. I've decided to use
my spare 10-gallon tank for all future isolation issues. You're
horseshoe crab FAQ's section has been a lifesaver. We bought Harry on a
whim, like so many others mistakenly do (our first unresearched
purchase) along with a hermit crab from our LFS. We knew nothing and
could find no information anywhere. We even went to two large local
aquariums and they could not help us. After many more long hours
searching online, we finally found your website! What a relief we
felt. Your site has been a constant source of valuable information for
to us. This reply needs no response. Thanks for all that you do for
us.
<You're welcome, Deborah, and continue reading/learning. James (Salty
Dog)>
Deborah Rowe |
Horseshoe Crab Health and Cucumber Fission 4/5/07
Hello! <Hi Susan!> I just recently found your site and have learned a great
deal from it already. <Thank you! How may we help you today?>. I have a 30
gallon tank that I have had for about 4 years. I purchased a horseshoe crab,
sadly, since I have read your article, 3 years ago. <Wow, considering their
specialized needs, 3 yrs in a 30g tank is a long time for one of these guys to
survive!> He has seemed to do well until the past week, he has molted twice
during the time I have had him. <Depending on his age, he should have molted
more than this over a three year period> He now has a dark brown color to his
back, his shell is soft and he does not seem to be moving his gills very
often.<Did he just molt in the last day? If so, that would be normal. Their
shell doesn’t harden for around 24 hrs. If not, that combined with the slow gill
action sounds like he’s in trouble. How is everything else in the tank? What are
your water parameters, including calcium? Have you ever tested for
Iodine/Iodide? Is he still eating and if so, what do you feed him? Also, how
large is he now?> He also is spending a lot of time upside down.<Horseshoe crabs
sometimes do odd things but all in all, I’m concerned for the little guy> I do
hope I have not starved him or caused him other harm. <If he survives, he really
needs to be in a tank more equipped for his needs. Please read the FAQ listed as
“Horseshoe crab Overview 4/14/03” at this link:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/horseshoecrabfaqs.htm > It is a shame that some
fish dealers do not have the knowledge to help educate people on purchases.
<Agreed. Horseshoe crabs are wonderfully interesting creatures that in the right
setting, can be very hardy. Unfortunately, they’re not well suited to the
warmer, predominantly rock filled reef tanks that most saltwater enthusiasts
keep> I will not make another purchase without checking your site first. <Yes,
it’s a difficult lesson that many of us have learned the hard way, but the good
news is that by you writing this, you may be saving another life down the road>
I also have a light spotted sea cucumber that recently divided into two sea
cucumbers. Both "halves" seem to be doing fine but I have not been able to find
any information on this. I would appreciate any help you could give me. <Ha!
Thought you were seeing double, didn't you? Actually, "fission", or splitting
into two parts in this case, is normal for some species of cucumber.
Interestingly enough, these species can reproduce sexually or asexually. What
usually happens is the cuke will disappear for a bit, maybe a week or two, then
reappear as two separate entities! How neat is that? Here’s a link to our Faq’s
on cuke reproduction:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cukereprofaqs.htm > Thank you for your time and
expertise.<You’re very welcome, Susan! -Lynn>
Small SW... Horseshoe Crab... No useful
info. – 06/08/07
Hello,
I just recently found your site and have learned a great deal from it already.
It is a shame that some fish dealers don't have the knowledge to advise people
in their purchases in the beginning.
<Such is the nature of experience, reality... "Once you get something wired...
your chances are generally long over">
I have a 30 gal tank, have had it for 4 years. I purchased a horseshoe crab
<What species? Might be at the end of its lifespan for these circumstances...>
three years ago. (sadly, after reading your article). It has seemed to do well
until the past week. It has molted twice in the time I have had him. He now
seems to be in trouble, hopefully I am not starving him, but he is spending a
lot of time upside down, his gills do not seem to be moving very often and his
shell is soft and has a brown tint on the back that was not previously there.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
<Mmm...>
I also have a light spotted sea cucumber that I have had for about a year.
<Could be a factor here as well...>
It recently divided into two separated cucumbers. Both "ends" seem to be doing
well but I have not been able to find any information on this.
<Need to identify... Pix?>
Thank you again for your time and expertise. I will definitely see your page
before any future purchases.
<Uhh... need more input... system make-up, maintenance, water quality
tests/history, foods/feeding... Bob Fenner>
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