Long-term high quality rearing device for tachypleus tridentatus parent

Abstract

This utility model discloses a long-term, high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab broodstock, including a culture unit. The culture unit contains a culture tank with a funnel-shaped bottom. A perforated raised plate is located at the bottom of the culture tank, and a silk screen is installed above the raised plate. During use, bottom sand is laid on top of the silk screen. A fifth flow pipe is installed with the opening of the culture tank facing downwards. The culture unit is connected to a water storage tank via a water circulation system. The water storage tank is equipped with a first flow pipe with upward-outflow design, and a first return pipe is located at the bottom of the water storage tank. Water pumped from the first flow pipe flows downwards into the culture unit, and water in the culture unit flows back to the water storage tank or is discharged outwards through the fifth flow pipe. This utility model, by simulating the natural habitat of the Chinese horseshoe crab, reduces stress on the crabs, facilitates bottom cleaning and wastewater discharge, allows for multiple uses of the same water body, requires only a small amount of fresh seawater replenishment, and, combined with stable water quality control and precise wastewater discharge, significantly reduces water consumption and wastewater discharge during the culture process, making it more environmentally friendly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of endangered marine organism conservation technology, specifically a long-term, high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parent stock. Background Technology

[0002] The Chinese horseshoe crab is one of the oldest living species on Earth, known as a "living fossil of the ocean." Its blue blood, used to make horseshoe crab reagent, is an irreplaceable tool in the medical field for detecting bacterial endotoxins. Due to overfishing, habitat destruction, and deterioration of its breeding environment, the Chinese horseshoe crab population has experienced a precipitous decline. In 2019, it was listed as an "endangered" species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and in 2021, it was included in China's National Key Protected Wild Animals List as a Class II protected animal.

[0003] Currently, horseshoe crab conservation technology in China mainly focuses on juvenile propagation and release, and juvenile simulated ecological farming. Existing technologies have the following prominent problems: Weak parent stock cultivation technology: Existing aquaculture devices, such as the "Chinese horseshoe crab juvenile simulated ecological aquaculture device" with patent CN108925511B, are mostly designed for juveniles and lack a system specifically for the long-term care of parent stock. Parent stock cultivation is often carried out in simple cement ponds or containers with unreasonable bottom design. Over time, the bottom environment deteriorates, affecting the health of the parent stock, leading to poor gonadal development, and limiting natural mating and spawning behaviors.

[0004] Traditional aquaculture systems often use static water bodies, requiring frequent water changes (usually daily). Frequent water changes are not only costly but also easily cause stress damage to the parent fish and disrupt the ecological environment. Feeding high-protein feed can easily deteriorate water quality, leading to the accumulation of metabolic waste such as ammonia nitrogen and nitrite, which affects the health and reproductive capacity of the parent fish.

[0005] Long-term conservation of parent organisms requires a high degree of simulation of natural tides, substrate environment, and biological communities. Current technologies often involve simply laying sand layers, which easily breeds bacteria, is difficult to clean and maintain, and lacks ecological functions such as tidal simulation, making it difficult to maintain a stable simulated ecological environment. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a long-term, high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents, in order to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a long-term high-quality breeding device for Chinese horseshoe crab broodstock, comprising a breeding unit, wherein the breeding unit is provided with a breeding tank with a funnel-shaped bottom, and a raised plate with through holes is provided at the bottom of the breeding tank. A silk screen is installed above the raised plate. In use, bottom sand is laid on top of the silk screen to form a bottom sand layer; the bottom of the breeding tank is provided with an opening in the center, and a fifth flow pipe is installed downward at the opening. The aquaculture unit and the water storage tank are connected by a water circulation system. The water storage tank is equipped with a first flow pipe that is designed to allow water to flow upwards. A first return pipe is provided at the bottom of the water storage tank. Water pumped from the first flow pipe flows downwards into the aquaculture unit. Water in the aquaculture unit flows back to the water storage tank or is discharged outwards through the fifth flow pipe located at its bottom. A second water outlet pipe is provided on the outward-facing side of the water storage tank.

[0008] Preferably, the shim plate is snapped onto the corner end of the funnel-shaped aquaculture tank.

[0009] Preferably, the first return pipe and the second outlet pipe are set at the same height and are connected by a three-way pipe. The water in the aquaculture unit flows to the three-way pipe through the fifth flow pipe or is discharged outward. A silk mesh filter bag for filtering large particles is fitted on the first return pipe.

[0010] Preferably, a submersible pump is installed on the first flow channel pipe, and the water volume balance is achieved by setting the submersible pump.

[0011] Preferably, there are at least two breeding units. The first flow pipe is connected to the first branch pipe. The first branch pipe is connected to at least two branch ends. A second flow pipe is installed on the branch end. A branch pipe is provided on the second flow pipe. A third flow pipe is installed at the top of the branch pipe. The third flow pipe has two water outlets. Water outlet pipes are installed on the two water outlets respectively. The water outlet end of the water outlet pipe is located above the screen. The mesh size of the silk screen is 0.4 mm; The aquaculture unit is made of polypropylene.

[0012] Preferably, the breeding unit is also connected to a fourth flow pipe facing outward. The fourth flow pipe is arranged in an inverted L shape. The other end of the fourth flow pipe is installed on the fifth flow pipe. A water inlet pipe is installed on the inner side of the fourth flow pipe facing the breeding unit. The water inlet pipe is inclined upward inside the breeding unit.

[0013] Preferably, the fifth flow pipe is connected to the second return pipe, and the water in the second return pipe flows into the first return pipe.

[0014] Preferably, a second branch pipe is also connected between the second return pipe and the first return pipe, and the second branch pipe is connected to at least two branch ends.

[0015] Preferably, the fifth flow pipe has a first outlet pipe on the outward-facing side.

[0016] Preferably, control valves are provided on the second flow pipe, the third flow pipe, the fourth flow pipe, the fifth flow pipe, the first water outlet pipe, and the second water outlet pipe.

[0017] Preferably, each of the breeding units is equipped with a monitoring system, and several of the monitoring systems are electrically connected to an external PLC control terminal. The monitoring system includes a monitoring camera device, which can facilitate the observation of the health status of the horseshoe crabs. It should be noted that the monitoring system can be purchased on the market.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: This invention simulates the natural habitat of horseshoe crabs by laying a layer of bottom sand inside each circular aquaculture unit, thereby mimicking the natural beach habitat of the Chinese horseshoe crab. This promotes the natural behavioral expressions of the horseshoe crabs (such as burrowing and tactile attraction), contributing to their physiological stability and mental health; reducing stress response and improving survival rate and reproductive potential; the aquaculture unit is supported by a raised platform with a fifth flow pipe installed downwards, covered with a 0.4mm sieve mesh before the sand is laid, facilitating drainage, rapid water changes, and bottom cleaning, reducing the accumulation of harmful substances; the sieve mesh prevents bottom sand loss, maintaining water quality while preserving the function of the bottom sediment; the raised design facilitates daily management, observation, and equipment maintenance; and the tank walls are made of polypropylene material, avoiding the long-term problems associated with traditional cement tanks. This solution addresses the health problems caused by shell wear in farmed horseshoe crabs. Furthermore, it employs a parallel design, using pumps to continuously deliver stable seawater from storage tanks to each farming unit, achieving water circulation and exchange. This maintains the uniformity and consistency of water quality parameters, reduces local stressors, and continuously maintains high dissolved oxygen and low ammonia nitrogen levels, lowering disease risk. The parallel connection of several independent farming units facilitates separate pond management. The solution also includes an intelligent monitoring system that records real-time behaviors such as burrowing, crawling, feeding, and contact with the horseshoe crabs, enabling routine, non-intrusive monitoring. This system provides a scientific basis for optimizing feeding strategies, environmental control, and farming management, supporting long-term behavioral research and improving conservation and reproductive success rates. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Top view.

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The front view.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of this utility model when in use.

[0024] In the attached diagram, the component names represented by each number are as follows: Aquaculture unit (1), bottom sand layer (2), sieve mesh (3), raised board (4), support frame (5), water storage tank (6), first flow pipe (7), first return pipe (8), first branch pipe (9), second flow pipe (10), third flow pipe (11), fourth flow pipe (12), fifth flow pipe (13), first outlet pipe (14), second return pipe (15), second branch pipe (16), second outlet pipe (17), monitoring system (20). Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0026] Please see Figure 1-4 This utility model provides a long-term, high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab broodstock, including a culture unit 1, as detailed in the appendix. Figure 4 The breeding unit is equipped with a breeding bucket with a funnel-shaped bottom. The lower part of the breeding bucket is equipped with a raised plate 4 with through holes. A silk screen 3 is installed on the upper part of the raised plate 4. When in use, bottom sand is laid on the upper part of the silk screen 3 to form a bottom sand layer 2. The middle part of the breeding bucket is provided with an opening, and a fifth flow pipe 13 is installed downward at the opening. The aquaculture unit 1 and the water storage tank 6 are connected by a water circulation method. The water storage tank 6 is equipped with a first flow pipe 7 with upward water outlet. The bottom of the water storage tank 6 is provided with a first return pipe 8. The water in the water storage tank is pumped from the first flow pipe 7 by a submersible pump (not shown in the figure) and flows from top to bottom into the aquaculture unit 1. The water in the aquaculture unit 1 flows back to the water storage tank 6 or is discharged outward through the fifth flow pipe 13 provided at its bottom. The water storage tank 6 is provided with a second water outlet pipe 17 on the outward side.

[0027] Furthermore, the raised plate 4 is snapped onto the corner of the funnel-shaped aquaculture tank, which can effectively ensure the layering effect, facilitate subsequent cleaning work, and will not affect the aquaculture of horseshoe crabs. It ensures filtration and facilitates drainage, solving the problems of inconvenient drainage, complicated bottom cleaning and sewage discharge operations, and easy disturbance of benthic organisms or sediments in traditional aquaculture ponds.

[0028] Furthermore, the first return pipe 8 and the second outlet pipe 17 are set at the same height and are connected by a three-way pipe. The water in the breeding unit 1 flows to the three-way pipe through the fifth flow pipe 13 or is discharged outward. By setting the three-way pipe, the flow direction of the return and outlet water can be better controlled, which facilitates centralized treatment.

[0029] Furthermore, the breeding unit 1 comprises at least two units, preferably an even number in practice. The first flow pipe 7 is connected to the first branch pipe 9, and the first branch pipe 9 has at least two branch ends connected outward. A second flow pipe 10 is installed on each branch end, and a branch pipe is provided on the second flow pipe 10. A third flow pipe 11 is installed at the top of the branch pipe, and the third flow pipe 11 has two outlets. Each outlet is equipped with an outlet pipe, and the outlet end of the outlet pipe is located above the screen 3. This scheme adopts a parallel design of multiple breeding units. It is equipped with several control valves to control the direction and magnitude of water flow, providing a water circulation and exchange process for the entire system. This ensures that water quality parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, etc.) are uniform and consistent, reducing local stressors. Continuous circulation maintains high dissolved oxygen and low ammonia nitrogen, reducing the risk of disease. Independent units are connected in parallel, facilitating separate pool management. Compared with traditional series systems or static water bodies, the circulation is uniform and the water quality is stable, which is more conducive to the healthy growth of horseshoe crabs. The advantage of this solution is that the water flow in the entire system is constantly circulating and flowing, effectively preventing the problem of blackening and deterioration of bottom sand leading to environmental degradation.

[0030] Furthermore, the screen mesh 3 has a mesh size of 0.4mm. The screen mesh can effectively prevent the loss of bottom sand, keep the water clean, preserve the bottom sediment function, and maintain the simulated natural habitat from being destroyed.

[0031] Furthermore, the breeding unit 1 is made of polypropylene material. The polypropylene barrel wall avoids the health problems caused by the wear and tear on the shell of horseshoe crabs raised in traditional cement ponds over a long period of time.

[0032] Furthermore, the breeding unit 1 is also connected to a fourth flow pipe 12 facing outward. The fourth flow pipe 12 is arranged in an inverted L shape. The other end of the fourth flow pipe 12 is installed on the fifth flow pipe 13. A water outlet pipe is installed on the inner side of the fourth flow pipe 12 facing the breeding unit 1. It should be noted that when the length of the water outlet pipe of the fourth flow pipe 12 is relatively long, it can be combined with the water inlet pipe of the third flow pipe 11 to discharge large suspended particles such as feces from the water. In practice, we assume that the water inlet pipe of the third flow pipe 11 flows into the breeding tank clockwise, and the water outlet pipe of the fourth flow pipe 12 is arranged in the same clockwise direction, so that large suspended particles are discharged smoothly through the water outlet pipe of the fourth flow pipe 12. When the length of the water outlet pipe of the fourth flow pipe 12 is relatively short, the water outlet pipe here is set to be detachable and installable, so as to meet the requirements of length adjustment. At this time, it can be used as a water outlet channel in the backwash state, which is convenient for washing the bottom sand (backwash) and collecting eggs, significantly improving management efficiency and water quality control capabilities.

[0033] Furthermore, the fifth flow pipe 13 is connected to the second return pipe 15, and the water in the second return pipe 15 flows into the first return pipe 8, which facilitates the recycling of reusable water.

[0034] Furthermore, a second branch pipe 16 is connected between the second return pipe 15 and the first return pipe 8. The second branch pipe 16 has at least two branch ends connected outwards. By setting the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe, the parallel design operation can be effectively realized. See Figure 1 and Figure 2 By setting two diversion pipes, four aquaculture units can be connected in parallel, achieving a controllable and adjustable circulating water effect.

[0035] Furthermore, the fifth flow pipe 13 is provided with a first outlet pipe 14 on the outward side, which facilitates the direct discharge of water that is no longer suitable for circulation from the breeding unit 1, thereby achieving controllability of the water treatment process.

[0036] Furthermore, control valves are provided on the second flow pipe 10, the third flow pipe 11, the fourth flow pipe 12, the fifth flow pipe 13, the first outlet pipe 14, and the second outlet pipe 17. The control valves can be manually or electrically controlled, allowing for convenient control of the water flow direction, selective backflow, or discharge. Since this solution involves multiple flow pipe combinations, it can achieve both the conventional water flow method of top water inlet and bottom water outlet, and the backwashing method of bottom water inlet and middle water outlet, facilitating the removal of dirt from the sand layer and resulting in good performance.

[0037] Furthermore, each of the breeding units 1 is equipped with a monitoring system 20 above it. Several monitoring systems 20 are electrically connected to an external PLC control terminal. It should be noted that the monitoring system 20 can be purchased from existing technologies on the market. The monitoring system 20 integrates a camera device to record the behavior of horseshoe crabs such as burrowing, crawling, feeding, and tactile attraction in real time, so as to achieve normalized and non-intrusive monitoring.

[0038] In practical applications: 1. Simulate natural habitat: Lay 3 mm particle size bottom sand Method: A layer of 3 mm particle size bottom sand was laid on the bottom of each circular breeding unit (2 m in diameter × 0.8 m in height) to simulate the natural beach habitat of horseshoe crabs; Overcoming the disadvantage: Traditional breeding environments lack bottom sediment, which cannot meet the habits of horseshoe crabs to burrow and hide in the sand.

[0039] Benefits include: promoting natural behavioral expressions of horseshoe crabs (such as burrowing and tactile behavior), which helps their physiological stability and mental health; reducing stress response, increasing survival rate and reproductive potential; and being closer to nature, exhibiting more natural behavior and lower stress compared to cement ponds without substrate or with only cement bottoms.

[0040] 2. Structural optimization: Polypropylene (PP) material, raised design, and manageable drainage system Method: The breeding unit is raised by physical supports, with raised boards installed and a fifth flow pipe installed. A drain outlet is set at the bottom. The raised boards are covered with 60-mesh (0.4mm mesh) silk screen and then covered with sand, which ensures filtration and facilitates drainage. Disadvantages overcome: The tank wall is made of polypropylene material, avoiding the health problems caused by shell wear of Chinese horseshoe crabs in traditional cement ponds. Traditional breeding ponds have inconvenient drainage, and the operation of cleaning and sewage discharge at the bottom of the pond is complicated, which easily disturbs benthic organisms or sediment.

[0041] Benefits include: convenient drainage, which facilitates rapid water changes and bottom cleaning, reducing the accumulation of harmful substances; the screen prevents bottom sand from being lost, keeping the water clean while preserving the function of the bottom sediment; the raised design facilitates daily management, observation and equipment maintenance, which significantly improves management efficiency and water quality control capabilities. The key point is that there is a continuous flow of water through the bottom sand layer, preventing the bottom sand layer from quickly turning black and becoming polluted during long-term aquaculture.

[0042] 3. Parallel circulating water system: stable and uniform water quality environment Method: In practice, a single-cycle model is generally not used. The water circulation from the storage tank to a single aquaculture unit represents the smallest unit of protection. Therefore, a parallel design is often employed in actual operation. See details... Figure 1Alternatively, method 2 involves using a submersible pump (not shown in the diagram) to continuously deliver stable, temporarily stored seawater from the storage tank to each aquaculture unit. By controlling the control valves, water circulation and exchange are achieved, ensuring a continuous flow of water through the bottom sand layer. This prevents the bottom sand layer from blackening and polluting the living environment of the horseshoe crabs during aquaculture. This overcomes the disadvantages of traditional single-circulation or centralized water supply, which can easily lead to uneven water quality in different areas, local accumulation of pollutants, and poor dissolved oxygen distribution.

[0043] Benefits include: uniform water quality parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, etc.), reducing local stressors; continuous circulation maintains high dissolved oxygen and low ammonia nitrogen, reducing disease risk; and parallel connection of independent units facilitates separate pool management and disease isolation. Compared with traditional series systems or static water bodies, the circulation is uniform and the water quality is stable, which is more conducive to the healthy growth of horseshoe crabs.

[0044] 4. Intelligent monitoring system: interference-free, continuous behavior observation Method: This device also includes a monitoring system (using commercially available products). The monitoring system integrates camera devices to record the burrowing, crawling, feeding, and tactile behaviors of the horseshoe crabs in real time, achieving normalized and non-intrusive monitoring. Each breeding unit 1 is equipped with a monitoring system 20. Several monitoring systems 20 are electrically connected to an external PLC control terminal (using commercially available products). This overcomes the shortcomings of traditional manual inspection, which is difficult to conduct continuous observation, has a lag in the detection of abnormal behaviors, and cannot make timely management adjustments.

[0045] Benefits: Real-time, continuous, and undisturbed acquisition of Chinese horseshoe crab behavioral data helps in the early identification of stress, disease, and abnormal feeding; provides a scientific basis for optimizing feeding strategies, environmental control, and aquaculture management; supports long-term behavioral research, and improves conservation and reproductive success rates. Comparison advantages: Compared to manual observation, the monitoring system is more efficient, accurate, and available around the clock, greatly improving the scientific nature and responsiveness of management.

[0046] This device achieves multiple uses of the same water body through a circulating water design, requiring only a small amount of fresh seawater replenishment. Combined with stable water quality control and precise sewage discharge, it significantly reduces water consumption and wastewater discharge during the aquaculture process. It avoids the water waste caused by frequent large-scale water changes due to water quality fluctuations in traditional aquaculture, significantly improves the water reuse rate, and is more environmentally friendly, economical, and sustainable.

[0047] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," "specific example," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0048] The preferred embodiments of this utility model disclosed above are merely illustrative of the present utility model. These preferred embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the utility model to the specific implementations described. Clearly, many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of this utility model, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize it. This utility model is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.

Claims

1. A long-term, high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parent stock, characterized by: The system includes a breeding unit, which contains a breeding tank with a funnel-shaped bottom. The lower part of the breeding tank is equipped with a raised plate with through holes. A sieve is installed above the raised plate. In use, a bottom sand layer is laid on top of the sieve. The bottom of the breeding tank has an opening in the center, and a fifth flow pipe is installed downward at the opening. The aquaculture unit and the water storage tank are connected by a water circulation system. The water storage tank is equipped with a first flow pipe that is designed to allow water to flow upwards. A first return pipe is provided at the bottom of the water storage tank. Water pumped from the first flow pipe flows downwards into the aquaculture unit. Water in the aquaculture unit flows back to the water storage tank or is discharged outwards through the fifth flow pipe located at its bottom. A second water outlet pipe is provided on the outward-facing side of the water storage tank.

2. The long-term high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shim plate is attached to the corner of the funnel-shaped aquaculture tank.

3. The long-term high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first return pipe and the second outlet pipe are set at the same height and are connected by a three-way pipe. The water in the aquaculture unit flows to the three-way pipe through the fifth flow pipe or is discharged outward. A silk mesh filter bag for filtering large particles is fitted on the first return pipe.

4. The long-term high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The breeding unit consists of at least two units. The first flow pipe is connected to the first branch pipe. The first branch pipe is connected to at least two branch ends. A second flow pipe is installed on the branch end. A branch pipe is provided on the second flow pipe. A third flow pipe is installed at the top of the branch pipe. The third flow pipe has two outlets. An outlet pipe is installed on each of the two outlets. The outlet end of the outlet pipe is located above the screen. The mesh size of the silk screen is 0.4 mm; The aquaculture unit is made of polypropylene.

5. The long-term high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents according to claim 4, characterized in that: The breeding unit is also connected to a fourth flow pipe facing outward. The fourth flow pipe is arranged in an inverted L shape. The other end of the fourth flow pipe is installed on the fifth flow pipe. A water inlet pipe is installed on the inner side of the fourth flow pipe facing the breeding unit. The water inlet pipe is inclined upward inside the breeding unit.

6. The long-term high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents according to claim 5, characterized in that: The fifth flow pipe is connected to the second return pipe, and the water in the second return pipe flows into the first return pipe.

7. The long-term high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents according to claim 6, characterized in that: A second branch pipe is also connected between the second return pipe and the first return pipe, and the second branch pipe is connected to at least two branch ends.

8. The long-term high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents according to claim 7, characterized in that: The fifth flow pipe has a first outlet pipe on its outward-facing side.

9. The long-term high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents according to claim 8, characterized in that: Control valves are provided on the second, third, fourth, and fifth flow pipes, as well as the first and second water outlet pipes.

10. The long-term high-quality conservation device for Chinese horseshoe crab parents according to claim 9, characterized in that: Each of the aforementioned breeding units is equipped with a monitoring system above it, and several of the monitoring systems are electrically connected to an external PLC control terminal.

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