Didn't even know we had these in the hobby!

[Parasite1971]

Was at a LFS in Orland o and seen a 50 cent piece sized Horseshoe crab for sale. I have to say I didn't even know we had these available in the hobby.

 

[Auquanut]

I've seen these before and have heard of reefers keeping them in their tanks. I just remember seeing horseshoe crabs in Chesapeake Bay that were the size of a punch bowl. Not sure if they are the same or not.
Pretty cool though.

 

[Waynerock]

Ever seen the picture of them all lined up in a lab getting “milked” for there blood. Pretty sad but they are raised just for that and there blood does save countless lives but still sad. Here is a picture incase you can’t visualize the horror. Good thing we are the top of the chain because imagine something doing that to us! Merry Christmas!!!

 

[yan2pr]

Ever seen the picture of them all lined up in a lab getting “milked” for there blood. Pretty sad but they are raised just for that and there blood does save countless lives but still sad. Here is a picture incase you can’t visualize the horror. Good thing we are the top of the chain because imagine something doing that to us! Merry Christmas!!!

I was definetly not expecting that. That is so sad.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I've seen these before and have heard of reefers keeping them in their tanks. I just remember seeing horseshoe crabs in Chesapeake Bay that were the size of a punch bowl. Not sure if they are the same or not.
Pretty cool though.

There are only 4 species of horseshoe crabs, all of them get that large. Very interesting creatures, all over sandy hook, nj in the summer.

 

[LC8Sumi]

What do they do with their blood?

 

[Signalhead]

I have one in my tank, he does an excellent job keeping the sand looking clean. He will come out from under the sand about three times a day. I call him crabby patty

 

[Waynerock]

What do they do with their blood?

The blood is used in the pharmaceutical industry but luckily they can Synthesize the blood so hopefully that Macabre practice will stop. Here is an example
Horseshoe crabs use hemocyanin to carry oxygen through their blood. Because of the copper present in hemocyanin, their blood is blue. ... Amebocytes from the blood of L. polyphemus are used to make Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), which is usedfor the detection of bacterial endotoxins in medical applications.

 

[LC8Sumi]

The blood is used in the pharmaceutical industry but luckily they can Synthesize the blood so hopefully that Macabre practice will stop. Here is an example
Horseshoe crabs use hemocyanin to carry oxygen through their blood. Because of the copper present in hemocyanin, their blood is blue. ... Amebocytes from the blood of L. polyphemus are used to make Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), which is usedfor the detection of bacterial endotoxins in medical applications.

Interesting, thanks!