Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus)
From The Aquarium Wiki
(Redirected from King Crab)
Horseshoe Crab
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
681 Litres (180 US G.)
20.32-60.96 cm (8-24")
8.1 - 8.5
3 -26 °C (37.4-78.8°F)
10-15 °d
1:1 M:F
20-40 years
This animal is available captive bred
Contents
Alternative names[edit]
- Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, Horsefoot Crab, King Crab, Pan Crab
Origin[edit]
- Across the Atlantic coast, but occasionally stray ones can be found in Europe.
Sexing[edit]
- Males are 1/3 the size of females, which grow up to 2 feet.
Tank compatibility[edit]
- Peaceful, but has a tendency to bulldoze objects, including invertebrates on the substrate. Keep that in mind when setting up the Environment to house them.
Diet[edit]
- Omnivorous; will scavenge, or hunt sand dwelling organisms like mollusks, and worms. Will willingly eat any foods given to them.
Feeding regime[edit]
- Daily
Environment Specifics[edit]
- Best kept in a spacious environment for it to move around in.
Behaviour[edit]
- Can knock over objects, as well as invertebrates, placed in the substrate. A spacious environment is ideal.
Identification[edit]
- Large crab-like animal with a roughly horseshoe-shaped shell and a long, straight tail spine. The underside is equipped with numerous legs, with the male's hind legs modified for gripping onto females during mating.
Notes[edit]
- When the crabs spawn, they congregate on the beach in masses. The males find a female, and ride on top of them until they reach a spot to lay eggs in. The eggs provide an important source of nourishment for seabirds, alligators, sea turtles, and fish.
- This species is so adaptable, it can be found from the cold waters of Northern Canada to the tropical waters of Florida, the Caribbean, and the Yucatan peninsula.
