In the wild- 

Native to the distant tropics of Asia, Vampire Crabs are unique and enchanting critters. With over 50 known Vampire Crab species in the Geosesarma genus- a number which is continually increasing with further research and discoveries- it's no wonder they're so popular! In the wild these crabs have a preference for land, concealing themselves under dense foliage, rocks and wood, or down water-side burrows, before emerging as the light fades for feeding. 

What do they look like? 

With such a variety of subspecies, it is no wonder that this is replicated in their appearances. Some crabs are dark, dull and unassuming, whilst others are vibrant displays of purples, yellows and reds, such as the Carnival Vampire Crab. A trait found in most of these crabs is their devilish yellow or orange eyes, which are perched upon two stalks, one of the reasons they were awarded their supernatural name! Most Vampire Crab species are similar in size, with few reaching a carapace size of more than 2cm, and a maximum leg span of around 6cm. 

Suitability- 

It won’t come as a surprise to learn that these crustaceans are not your average pet- you can't play fetch, they won’t come to you for food, and to be honest, you probably won’t see much of them at all! For this reason, they tend to be better suited to serious invertebrate keepers, who are happy looking at a beautifully scaped tank, without necessarily seeing the inhabitants. I find myself constantly reassuring visitors to the house that yes, we do in fact have crabs in there, but even I doubt myself after a week or two without seeing any!  

So, whilst their care requirements are relatively basic, and they are often considered suitable for beginners, they do not make engaging pets, so would perhaps be unsuitable for a child, or someone after something a little more hands-on. 

Housing and the environment- 

One of the reasons for the popularity of these crabs as pets is their enclosure needs. A habitat for a Vampire Crabs does not need to be huge, and it can be made as complex or simplistic as the keeper desires. 

When selecting your enclosure, you’ll need to ensure that it is waterproof, easily accessible and escape proof- these critters are unbelievably good climbers and will escape all but the most secure tanks. I tend to opt for a glass tank, this could be either a terrarium or a repurposed aquarium, which often come with tight fitting lids, as well as being able to hold water. It is generally recommended that a group of 4 crabs should be kept in no less than a 2ft tank (the standard 10 US gallon aquarium). Here, I tend to go with the ‘bigger is better approach,’ and I currently house a breeding group of 5 adults in a 1-metre-long repurposed aquarium! 

After sourcing your tank, it is time to think about the electrical components of the setup. These are quite basic for Vampire Crabs, and keeper rarely use more than a filter, a heater, and an LED. I have found that by maintaining the temperature of the water area at around 26 degrees Celsius (78.8f) using a small submersible heater, the ambient air temperature is also maintained within an appropriate range. If supplementary heat is required, this would be best achieved using a small heat mat attached to the side of the tank, however my crabs thrive without this. Lighting- often in the form of energy efficient LEDs- is an optional addition to the tank. This being said, I would always recommend the inclusion of lighting in a setup to provide a day and night cycle for the animal, whilst stimulating healthy growth of any live plants. This should be controlled by a plug-in timer.

Now the basics are all laid out, you can begin to think about the landscaping of your enclosure. Whilst crabs will survive in a basic setup with a water dish and hides, they will truly thrive in a bioactive paludarium setup. A paludarium is a tank which includes areas of both land and water- perfect for replicating the stream environments of Indonesia. The land and water ratio is important to establish before commencing the build- for this primarily terrestrial species, a ration of around 80% land to 20% water is ideal, although this will depend on the exact specifications of your tank. 

For the land area, you should consider creating a layered base, with a drainage layer to prevent the substrate from becoming too damp. On top of this, a thick layer of bioactive substrate should be applied, followed by the final features, such as plants, leaf litter, wood, hides and botanicals. These crabs are secretive and will conceal themselves throughout the day. Therefore, it is vital to provide plenty of refuge areas: either artificial hides or by clever application of natural elements. Areas for foraging are also vitally important, as most feeding is carried out terrestrially. 

For the water area, a sand substrate is best, and the most representative of the wild habitat. It is vital that the water area is large enough for the crabs to enter fully to allow the process of moulting to be carried out. I opt for a depth of around 8-10cm, with sloping banks of sand and rock and overhanging planting and decor for easier access to and from the water. 

Humidity- 

Found in tropical environments close to water sources, a high humidity is a must for these crabs. Many keepers opt for at least 75% humidity, which they monitor using a digital hydrometer. Regular misting, live plants and mosses, and a body of water are all ways in which the humidity of a setup can be increased. Screen topped enclosures would also benefit from being partially covered by a solid plastic sheet to retain humidity. 

Diet and feeding- 

Getting wild caught crabs eating can be difficult, which is another reason I would always opt for a naturalistic or bioactive enclosure, which can even provide food to your animals. Wild crabs will eat a varied diet of plant and animal matter, something which is important to replicate in captivity, specifically if you are hoping to breed. 

Protein and calcium are two of the most important nutrients to these crabs. Below is a list of the food we offer our crabs. 

Protein sources: 

  • Small crickets 
  • Mealworms 
  • Frozen bloodworm 
  • Brine shrimp  
  • Copepods 
  • Other small feeder inverts, for land or water 
  • High protein fish flakes/crushed pellets 

Calcium sources: 

  • High calcium veg such as kale, spinach and broccoli 

Other foods: 

  • Leaf litter and debris 
  • Algae (often grows naturally in the water area) 
  • Other veg such as cucumber 
  • Commercially available crab food- we have had little success with getting our crabs to eat these, however it is important to remember that other foods should be offered for variety regardless 

 

As Vampire Crabs are often considered grazers, using their claws and mouthparts to spend long periods of time picking through substrate to find their food, we always ensure that the tank has various sources of food scattered across the tank, in both land and water areas. 

 

Cleaning- 

The addition of clean-up crew (often made up of springtails and isopods) will help to keep on top of waste in the environment, only really leaving you the task of removing large excess food items and trimming back any live plants. A setup is not considered bioactive without the important bioactive custodians- it is these organisms which are able to help the ecosystem recycle products and waste. 

When the clean-up crew breed successfully in the setup, they also provide an easy and natural food source for the crabs. 

Sourcing your crabs- 

Sadly, Vampire Crabs are almost exclusively wild caught, many of which arrive from Asia in a poor state. The trade is fuelled by the demand for this species, which, with a low retail price of just £10-15 each, lead exporters to care relatively little about their welfare in transit. 

We huge successfully bred Vampire Crabs at the menagerie and hope to fine-tune our methods to help others bring a consistent source of captive bred individuals to the trade. You can find out more about our invert projects here. 

At the Menagerie- 

We currently have a breeding group of 5 adults at the menagerie but have kept several others in the years before. We welcomed our first babies in late 2023- more detail about the breeding of the Vampire Crab can be found by reading our article, ‘The Bloodthirsty: the care and breeding of Vampire Crabs’ in the February 2024 issue of Exotics Keeper Magazine. 

Thank you for reading my Vampire Crab care sheet and I hope you found it helpful and informative. Good luck with your new reptile! 

This care sheet has been written through the combination of my own experiences (I will only write about species I have worked with) and the knowledge, experience, and recommendations of other keepers in the exotic-keeping community.