HorseShoe Crab Viability in Tropical Temps

[Feet4Fish]

Anyone out there have much experience with these creatures? Bob Fenner and crew over at WWM says that Limulus polyphemus should be kept in much more temperate waters than what we keep out tropical tanks at. However, noticed on LA site says temp range is 72-78 and KP Aquatics sells them as well from the waters around the Keys. Can one thrive long term at say 76 degrees?

 

[Old Fritz]

A coworker of mine has a horseshoe crab in a reef tank that is in the mid to high seventies and the thing thrives. Although he doesn't see it often. He's had it for 6 months now I think.

 

[cristata.reef]

Depends on species. Most commerically available horsehsoes are L. polyphemus which are native to the Atlantic seaboard of the US which does have decently cold water (60s-70s depending on location and season). I suppose like many other of the temperate species (Catalina gobies, bluespotted jawfish, margarita snails, mexican turbo snails, etc) kept in reef aquaria they'll survive but their lifespans will be decreased. In the wild L. polyphemus can live in excess of 10-15 years, 20+ years in public aquaria but this may be reduced to less than 10 in warmer temps. This has to do with the correlation between increased temps and increased metabolic function. Hope that helps a little

 

[Ncfishlover]

Im not what I would call a very experienced reefer but I got a horeshoe crab going on 2 years now and its thriving in my 75g tank, see him around the tank all the time.

 

[redfishbluefish]

When I dove in the Keys, Limulus polyphemus were common to the water there. I've got to believe if they can survive in the Keys, why not in our tanks.

 

[Feet4Fish]

Thanks for sharing that. Agree with your thought. If nature puts them in water around the keys the should do fine in 76 degrees. I saw KP Aquatics can harvest them which gave me hope as it seems like a very conscientious run outfit!!!

 

[jd371]

Horseshoe crabs! let me tell you how much I love Horseshoe crabs :mad:. I surf fish the South Shore of Long Island for Stripers in the Spring and Fall. The best time to fish for Stripers is at night, it's also the same time for the Horseshoe crabs to have their little orgies near the water's edge. I can't tell you how many times I've had the bejesus scared out of me in waist high water at night when one of these critters crawls over my foot.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Don't those guys get huge...I mean like...HUGE!? That would be my biggest concern. I'd also think they need a pretty massive sand area?

 

[BranchingHammer]

I’ve had one in my reef for about one year now, he’s very small and grows slowly so far. My temperature varies between 78-79 normally.

 

[cristata.reef]

Don't those guys get huge...I mean like...HUGE!? That would be my biggest concern. I'd also think they need a pretty massive sand area?

Yep, just under 2 feet for total length including tail and about a foot across

 

[Feet4Fish]

He would be going in my 650. 8x 3 footprint.

 

[Driftdiver]

I’ve had them in my systems twice.

First time was in a 65 show reef that I kept approximately at 78 degrees in 1992. The horseshoe crab was 5 inches long including tail and lived for a year. All of my parameters were perfect. I successfully kept a lot of other inverts, corals, and fish long term but the horseshoe crab was not one of them.

Second time was in 1998..I think it died in less than a week. Parameters were all good, except my Nitrate was slightly elevated. I chalked it up to collection related issues.

Obviously my experience has been negative, but I was not using a chiller. IF you are running a chiller at a low (72 or less) temperature on a large 200+ established system you may have long term success. When I bought them the HSC was $10...now they aren’t so cheap.

 

[Joshua Kerstetter]

I bought one from a local vendor who has a licence to collect from the Keys. I was skeptical, it was small and only $5 so I thought why not. It went into the tank, buried in the sand, never to be seen for months, but one day when moving some rock around, there he was, spent a bit of fruitless time trying to swim, then down into the sand he goes. I wish him well, if he ever becomes too big if there's a issue I'll make a plan to remove him, but until then he's just fine in my 77-77.8 degree tank and I wish him the best.

 

[Rick.45cal]

This might be one of those questions where the answer to “can you” or “should you” are likely two different answers. (Depending on who you ask, and what their, or your internal beliefs/priorities are).