Horseshoe crab..

Stacef · 04-21-2008, 10:27 AM

Dead??

I got him about 3 weeks ago, literally have not seen a sign of him since. One night about 2 weeks ago, I thought I saw tracks in the sand from him, but that could've been anything! Soo...what do I do? Try and find him to give him a good meal. I know stirring up the sand is a bad thing, should I just leave him? What if he dies??? I will never know it, he could be dead already. I am sure others have experienced this also. Help would be wonderful. Thanks!!

Witfull · 04-21-2008, 10:34 AM

HSC are a temperate water species. in waters over 72* they do not fair well. i would stir the sand to find him.

BigAl07 · 04-21-2008, 10:39 AM

I've not had one myself but out LFS carries them very often. A fellow reefer bought one for his daughter's tank and he said," I hadn't seen it in over a month.. assumed it was gone... one morning I just happened to look over and saw it digging into the sand-bed." then he called about a week later to say it was official DOA as he found the carcass on the sand. I'd say don't sweat it and let it be.

Witfull · 04-21-2008, 10:45 AM

ever see the carcasses wash up on the shore at the beginning of summer? heat does them in.

Stacef · 04-21-2008, 11:04 AM

It is ok to sift the sand to find him though?

The way I understand it is to leave your sand be, but I would rather find him and see how he's doing, rather tha leaving him be in case something is wrong...

Witfull · 04-21-2008, 11:08 AM

stirring within the 1/2" range is totally safe.

Stacef · 04-21-2008, 11:09 AM

THanks!!

Stacef · 04-30-2008, 09:55 PM

Just a WONDERFUL note, he's doing GREAT! I did some re scaping the other day, he came out to see what the new look is! Looks like he's getting bigger.

BoomerD · 04-30-2008, 09:59 PM

Yet ANOTHER in the long line of animals that should be left in the sea, not collected for our aquariums.

HShoeCrabsArt

KimPossible · 04-30-2008, 11:15 PM

Stace,
That is actually a very good article; offering a chance for aquarists who have this animal the opportunity to provide an adequate environment and feeding regimen. Wet Web Media is one of my preferred learning tools.

Glad to hear your critter is doing well and growing

Stacef · 05-01-2008, 09:06 AM

Thank you Boomer and Kim, I do feel bad for having him...but now what? I take him to the LFS, and there's a chance of someone whose tank isn't ready having him, and him not having a chance to survive. With me he IS surviving. I will admit, he is the only guy I did NOT research in the tank and I kick myself for it everyday. Thanks for sharing the article, full of helpful facts.

Dentoid · 05-01-2008, 10:17 AM

What is the fascination with this animal anyway? There are other invertebrates that are nicer to look at and far more interesting. I guess I feel that way because I was raised in Florida and we would frequently see them washed up on the beach.

Fishhead Junkie · 05-01-2008, 10:28 AM

i agree that there are just some species of inverts and fish as well as corals that should be left in the ocean but really that's kind of hypocritical...if all of us really really really really cared about this topic...none of us would be in this saltwater hobby. i am sure every living creature would rather be in their natural setting than in a tank in someones living room. i for one like my saltwater reef tank and will continue on with my hobby...thats my 2 cents.

steve

BoomerD · 05-01-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishhead Junkie

i agree that there are just some species of inverts and fish as well as corals that should be left in the ocean but really that's kind of hypocritical...if all of us really really really really cared about this topic...none of us would be in this saltwater hobby. i am sure every living creature would rather be in their natural setting than in a tank in someones living room. i for one like my saltwater reef tank and will continue on with my hobby...thats my 2 cents.

steve

To a point you're right I suppose, but what it comes down to is the ethics of collecting animals that have a poor survivability in home aquariums. Remember, these are not tank-bred animals, there's not some factory in China churning out cheap saltwater animals for our tanks, they are wild-caught, and as such, we have a responsibility to only collect the ones that have a proven record of surviving in captivity.
I've read before that less than 1 out of 10 animals that's collected in the wild actually survives 1 year in captivity. Those are pretty dismal numbers and show a poor stewardship on our part...

Fishhead Junkie · 05-01-2008, 11:40 AM

thats true, i guess we are both right in a way. i will agree that many animals should never even be considered in our reef tanks.

i did have a horseshoe crab in the very beginning of my tank...not the best idea and was done with poor judgement, the tank was just no set up properly. i do miss it though...they are very fun to watch when they are out bumping into stuff.

steve

ps..i rarely ever see them anymore in stores.

04-21-2008, 10:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Stacef Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 1,444 View Gallery Karma Komment	Horseshoe crab.. Dead?? I got him about 3 weeks ago, literally have not seen a sign of him since. One night about 2 weeks ago, I thought I saw tracks in the sand from him, but that could've been anything! Soo...what do I do? Try and find him to give him a good meal. I know stirring up the sand is a bad thing, should I just leave him? What if he dies??? I will never know it, he could be dead already. I am sure others have experienced this also. Help would be wonderful. Thanks!! __________________ Stace My 20g Build

04-21-2008, 10:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,884 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Horseshoe crab.. I've not had one myself but out LFS carries them very often. A fellow reefer bought one for his daughter's tank and he said," I hadn't seen it in over a month.. assumed it was gone... one morning I just happened to look over and saw it digging into the sand-bed." then he called about a week later to say it was official DOA as he found the carcass on the sand. I'd say don't sweat it and let it be. __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

04-21-2008, 11:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
Stacef Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 1,444 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Horseshoe crab.. It is ok to sift the sand to find him though? The way I understand it is to leave your sand be, but I would rather find him and see how he's doing, rather tha leaving him be in case something is wrong... __________________ Stace My 20g Build

04-21-2008, 11:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
Stacef Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 1,444 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Horseshoe crab.. THanks!! __________________ Stace My 20g Build

04-30-2008, 09:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Stacef Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 1,444 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Horseshoe crab.. Just a WONDERFUL note, he's doing GREAT! I did some re scaping the other day, he came out to see what the new look is! Looks like he's getting bigger. __________________ Stace My 20g Build

04-30-2008, 09:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,634 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Horseshoe crab.. Yet ANOTHER in the long line of animals that should be left in the sea, not collected for our aquariums. HShoeCrabsArt __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

04-30-2008, 11:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
KimPossible Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 2,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Horseshoe crab.. Stace, That is actually a very good article; offering a chance for aquarists who have this animal the opportunity to provide an adequate environment and feeding regimen. Wet Web Media is one of my preferred learning tools. Glad to hear your critter is doing well and growing __________________ Kim ~My environment is a product of myself~

05-01-2008, 09:06 AM	#11 (permalink)
Stacef Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 1,444 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Horseshoe crab.. Thank you Boomer and Kim, I do feel bad for having him...but now what? I take him to the LFS, and there's a chance of someone whose tank isn't ready having him, and him not having a chance to survive. With me he IS surviving. I will admit, he is the only guy I did NOT research in the tank and I kick myself for it everyday. Thanks for sharing the article, full of helpful facts. __________________ Stace My 20g Build

05-01-2008, 10:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,240 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Horseshoe crab.. What is the fascination with this animal anyway? There are other invertebrates that are nicer to look at and far more interesting. I guess I feel that way because I was raised in Florida and we would frequently see them washed up on the beach. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

05-01-2008, 10:28 AM	#13 (permalink)
Fishhead Junkie Fire Coral Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 74 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Horseshoe crab.. i agree that there are just some species of inverts and fish as well as corals that should be left in the ocean but really that's kind of hypocritical...if all of us really really really really cared about this topic...none of us would be in this saltwater hobby. i am sure every living creature would rather be in their natural setting than in a tank in someones living room. i for one like my saltwater reef tank and will continue on with my hobby...thats my 2 cents. steve

05-01-2008, 11:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
Fishhead Junkie Fire Coral Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 74 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Horseshoe crab.. thats true, i guess we are both right in a way. i will agree that many animals should never even be considered in our reef tanks. i did have a horseshoe crab in the very beginning of my tank...not the best idea and was done with poor judgement, the tank was just no set up properly. i do miss it though...they are very fun to watch when they are out bumping into stuff. steve ps..i rarely ever see them anymore in stores.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)