How big is a horseshoe crab when biomedical companies bleed it?

Question

the mature adult size of a limulus polyphemus horseshoe crab is around 2 feet long and 1 foot wide. Males are smaller. I need to know how long a horseshoe crab is when it is caught and bled for biomedical purposes.

Answer 1

I cant find anything that states the size of horseshoe crabs used for the blood extraction.  The method used is to take about 30% of the total blood volume.  That is determined by the weight the animal.  Research has shown that a certain percentage of the total weight will be blood.  I don't think length or age is a consideration.  After all the blood collected is pooled.

Answer 2

I believe that because they are collecting them as they come in for breeding purposes, that all the horshoe crabs they collect are mature adults.  Therefore, I'm not sure they have a lower size limit restriction.