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Horseshoe Crabs and Puffers : Good Tank mates??
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:58 pm
by Black Widow
let me know what you think, as I would like to get one or two for my tank.
Heres a pic of one for those who dont know what they looks like:
and one upside down:

Re: Horseshoe Crabs and Puffers : Good Tank mates??
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:04 pm
by Nuclear_Glitter
I don't know the answer but I'm very interested in knowing cause I like them a lot.
Re: Horseshoe Crabs and Puffers : Good Tank mates??
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:21 pm
by sevenyearnight
As awesome as these guys look, like the cleaner wrasse, they have a specialized diet/feeding and there is no likely way to sustain them in a hobby setting and they starve to death.

These need an established deep sand bed. Also, they can reach diameters of 2 feet.
Re: Horseshoe Crabs and Puffers : Good Tank mates??
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:24 pm
by Nuclear_Glitter
Very good to know seven. Thanks so much.
Re: Horseshoe Crabs and Puffers : Good Tank mates??
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:27 pm
by chuckfriedrice
Ive tried them 3 times now and all 3 times I have failed . I think 2 starved to death after a 2 months or so and 1 got eaten by my Strawberry hermit crab! Ive herd even the most established tanks they end up starving ! I think that the puffer would take them out with no problems ! The Strawberry Hermit flipped it over and ate his underside !
Re: Horseshoe Crabs and Puffers : Good Tank mates??
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:58 pm
by J-P
sevenyearnight wrote:As awesome as these guys look, like the cleaner wrasse, they have a specialized diet/feeding and there is no likely way to sustain them in a hobby setting and they starve to death.

These need an established deep sand bed. Also, they can reach diameters of 2 feet.
+1
And that is why "7" is at the top of the game

They have very specialized requirements and are NOT for home aquaria.
Re: Horseshoe Crabs and Puffers : Good Tank mates??
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:59 pm
by Black Widow
right they sound like a disaster then
Re: Horseshoe Crabs and Puffers : Good Tank mates??
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:31 pm
by Pufferpunk
Considering they only live off of critters in the sand bed & require 20'x20' bed of sand a piece to keep them fed, I'd say it's a really bad idea to keep one in captivity.
Interesting tidbit (especially for BW), they are not crabs but more closely related to spiders!