horseshoe crab

[amstar15]

i saw in an earlier post that with a deep sand bed (what is considered deep in a 75 gallon tank) that a sand shifting starfish was not a good idea. does this go for the horseshoe crab as well? I have both is my sandbed "dead" so to speak

 

[J-Money]

I believe a deep sand bed is anything over 4" deep

 

[Navarre]

Thats true, 4" or over.
If you dont want a deep sand bed then i strongly suggest you remove a couple of inches (carefully) or it will start to produce toxins in the tank that will get trapped under the sand. Sand sifters are voracsious predators and will hunt a DSB until its devoid of burrowing life.
Horseshoe crabs love to burrow into sand but these crabs grow HUGE and are extremely clumsy. Definately not a creature for a home aquarium IMO as they are too big and can damage themselvs and the rock/corals around them as they try to manouver.

 

[amstar15]

the horseshoe is only about the size of a quarter right now. I planned on getting ride of him when he got bigger. I did noticed that after his first molt he almost doubled in size.

 

[Navarre]

The problem with keeping him until he outgrows your system is this... where do you get rid of him too?
Most LFS tell you they will accept them back yet very few deliver on their promise, how many people do you know with 250 gallon systmes that are mostly flat sand beds?
I personally feel they are best seen in public aquariums where their special needs can be catered for )