Orange Eye Vampire Crab (Geosesarma sp.)

Description

* For the safety of our animals, we now ship Vampire Crabs exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout *
PLEASE NOTE: This species is a semi-terrestrial crab. Its habitat must be at least half (and preferably more) land with freshwater. It is an ideal paludarium animal.
The Orange Eye Vampire Crab is a fascinating semi-terrestrial species that is beautifully marked. It is communal with its own species and is an excellent choice for the paludarium, even nano-sized enclosures!
The Orange Eye Vampire Crab (
Geosesarma sp.
) is a small, very colorful, semi-terrestrial species that is native to Java, Indonesia. It inhabits forest areas near streams, rivers, and ponds. It spends most of its time on land, but also often submerges in freshwater, including when it molts. It is communal with its own species, and males typically are larger than females, and also have much larger claws. This species/variety is particularly rare and new to much of the hobby.
In nature, the Orange Eye Vampire Crab lives in leaf litter and vegetation. In the paludarium, it requires ample land area. It typically will not eat healthy plants, but it will often help keep them clean and it may consume dead leaves. Like most crabs, it needs plenty of cover, especially when molting, so lots of decor is necessary.
While it is communal with its own species, it is often aggressive with other types of crabs, including other vampire crab species with which it competes in the wild.
It is a skilled climber, so extra care must be taken to ensure that it does not escape its enclosure.
Like most crabs, the Orange Eye Vampire Crab is an omnivorous scavenger and an opportunistic hunter on occasion. It feeds on filamentous algae and detritus in the paludarium and will also readily accept high-quality dry foods that are rich in plant matter. Fresh and dried vegetables are also excellent food sources, as are insects, worms, and other invertebrates. Due to its opportunistic nature, the Orange Eye Vampire Crab might eat other ornamental invertebrates and fish, so its tankmates must be chosen with great care.
*
IMPORTANT
* Please "Choose a Variant" above before adding this crab to your cart.
We offer a "B-Grade" variant for these crabs.
Our “B-Grade” crabs are simply specimens that are missing legs or claws unless otherwise stated. Loss of appendages is not permanent and happens commonly with crustaceans.  They are completely healthy with excellent coloration and will completely regenerate lost appendages within 1 to 2 molts.
What We Like About This Crab
:
Generally peaceful with its own species
Fascinating behavior and beautiful coloration
Ideal for paludariums
Easy to feed
Excellent scavenger
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS
:
Temperature
: 75
° - 82° F (24° - 28° C)
pH:
7.5
- 8.0
KH
: 4 - 10
dKH
Humidity
: 75+%
Minimum tank size
: 5 gallons for 1 male and 2 females. Larger colonies require larger tanks.
CARE GUIDELINES
:
Diet
:
Omnivorous. High-quality sinking flakes and pellets, plants/algae, and freeze-dried or frozen meaty foods will be readily accepted. Cuttlebone or a similar material should be added to the aquarium to supplement calcium, which will aid in exoskeleton production
Social behavior
:
Peaceful with its own species. May fight with or prey on other species.
Origin
:
Java, Indonesia
Average adult size
: 2
inches (5 cm) or less
Average purchase size
:
1 - 2 inches (2.5 - 5 cm)
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