Horseshoe crab in the reef?

[bct15]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with horseshoe crabs in a reef tank. A buddy of mine has a couple extra ones (they are about an inch in diameter). I have been cursed with problematic inhabitants over the last few months and don't want to add another. Online states they are reef safe, but I want to know how reef safe and what sort of problems people have had with them.

Thanks in advance,
Brandon

 

[Wy Renegade]

They require a DSB, and usually starve after a relatively short period. Not generally recommended.

 

[subielover]

They require a DSB, and usually starve after a relatively short period. Not generally recommended.

+1 I hate seeing them at LFS'

 

[Billgax]

Plus, they also tend to get stuck to pump intakes (including Koralias and Vortech mp's, etc). Almost need a dedicated system...

 

[Lateral72]

A friend of mine picked one up a while ago, and it ended up in a 125 gallon we had setup at the time (not by choice). The tank had a 4" DSB and it did eat scraps. It had a tendency to wonder into anemones and corals. It starved after a while, however. I believe their diet consists of fauna and scraps in the sandbed. They also get HUGE when given proper housing.

 

[JackoChang]

agreed with what everyone else is saying. They are sweet looking, but best left for dedicated individuals/aquariums/ocean. They tend to starve after a few weeks.

 

[Tabasco1]

I believe not good reef candidates. I think similar to other animals that are from cooler water they just don't do well long term.

 

[Electrobes]

My friend had one in his 200 cube. It surprisingly did well for about six months, but he was in a major deep sand bed. He disappeared after the six months... not sure what happened to them. He was a little guy, but I've heard these things get huge and very destructive.

 

[CJO]

There are definitely warm water horseshoe crabs. I used to see them when I want snorkeling in the Florida Keys. However, like the others have said, your tank (unless it's huge) will not have a large enough food supply in the substrate to keep one for any length of time.

CJ

 

[ficklefins]

I have been cursed with problematic inhabitants over the last few months and don't want to add another.

I would consider this a problematic inhabitant.

 

[Lateral72]

There are definitely warm water horseshoe crabs. I used to see them when I want snorkeling in the Florida Keys. However, like the others have said, your tank (unless it's huge) will not have a large enough food supply in the substrate to keep one for any length of time.

CJ

Yes, there definitely are warm water species of horseshoe crabs. I have caught a good number of crabs while netting through the weeds in a few of Florida's bays, Biscayne and Banana River specifically.

 

[Reef Keeper 18]

They usually starve mine did after two weeks or wo. Wouldn't eat at all.

 

[ReefDreams]

I had two that were about 1" -1 1/2" and they lasted close to a year. I had no issues with them and I housed them in a 55g with about a 3" sandbed. The most trouble they got into was getting stuck in tight places lol.