Horseshoe Crab

The Horseshoe Crab displays a greenish-brown to light tan color, featuring a rounded dorsal body and a long spiked tail. Despite its name, it is not a true crab but belongs to the chelicerates group, which includes spiders and mites. Horseshoe Crabs can grow quite large, with females typically reaching up to 12 inches in diameter. As small juveniles, Horseshoe Crabs are efficient scavengers that play an important role in aerating and maintaining sand beds. They dig through sand and gravel in search of worms and organic debris, continuously moving the substrate around in search of food. Although they are reef-safe, larger specimens can be harmful to fish and invertebrates, especially worms and clams. But it usually takes a decade to grow to such sizes. To supplement their scavenging, it’s essential to provide a diet consisting of meaty items such as squid and shrimp. While Horseshoe Crabs may find some food through scavenging, adding meaty food to their diet helps ensure their optimal health.