Is horse shoe crab reef safe?

[dz6t]

Is it? I saw some in a store and they are cute.

Thanks

 

[reefsmurf]

Is it? I saw some in a store and they are cute.

Thanks

They grow up to be humongous, not good for any size tank.

 

[Tstone]

I think they eat sand bed critters also.

 

[starrfish]

I've heard they are difficult to keep alive. But they are cute little critters.

 

[NateHanson]

little?

are there different types of horseshoe crabs, or do they all turn into the dinner-plate sized critters I think of? If so, I wouldn't think any tank in our group would be big enough to house one.

 

[starrfish]

I don't know, but the ones I've seen at the LFS are very small and cute.

 

[NateHanson]

Yeah, I have to admit I saw a pair of small rays in a tank at SeaWorld in Salem this weekend, and thought "cute! and cool!" But they get to be over a foot in diameter, and like to swim, so I think they're out of bounds. I sort of wish stores wouldn't stock things that are babies, and have no chance of surviving as adults in the care of the average hobbiest. Especially when I see them in stores that I know will recommend inappropriate livestock.

 

[starrfish]

I totally agree!

 

[jamie wilson]

i had two in my 46 bow for about 9 months - 1 year... i would always be rescuing them from the over flow box (they love to swim but are not very good at it)... when i got them they were about the size of a quarter and when i found them dead (after the hermit's cleaned them) they were about the size of a 1/2 dollar.... never saw them picking on anything, but i never had (and still dont have) great life in my sand bed... they were fun to watch but i never replaced them after they died... if you want them get them... no regrets...

 

[RobboT]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=421587&highlight=horseshoe+crab

 

[clamm]

nate there is always room for another tank right...rays are very playfull...