Vampire Crab

 
$9 a pair

Common Name(s): Vampire crabs.

Scientific Name: Geosesarma sp.’vampire”.

Origin Indonesia.

Systematics:Domain: Eucaryota, kingdom: Animalia, subkingdom: Metazoa (multiple-celled animals), Eumetazoa (true tissue), grade: Bilateria, branch: Protostomia, infrakingdom: Ecdysozoa (molting animals), phylum: Arthropoda (jointed-leg invertebrates), subphylum: Crustacea, class: Malacostraca (higher crustaceans), superorder: Eucarida, order: Decapoda (ten-legged crayfish), suborder: Pleocyemata, infraorder: Reptantia, section: Brachyura (true crabs), superfamily: Grapsoidea, family: Sesarmidae (mangrove crabs), genus: Geosesarma, species: Geosesarma sp. (not yet identified)

Size: Maximum 1 inch across carapice.

Colour: Purple all, except lemon/eggshell colouring on top of carapice with yellow or red eyes.

Compatibility In Captivity: Generally peaceful but will take small fry and may not play nice with other types of crabs. (this is a general observation).

Habit & Habitat: These little creatures like to be near water and enjoy a paddle and maybe a swim now and again but will spend alot of time on land reports suggest that these animals will do better in a vivarium than in an aquarium but a vivarium with maybe a 25% pond at one end would be ideal. Beware, they like to climb so ensure they can't escape their housing. These little chaps don't need a large range and are peacful amongst themselves 2 per square foot should give them plenty of space.

Temperture: 22-28°C/72-82°F and amid high humidity.

Diet: Reports suggest that they will eat many things including flake, pellets, meaty foods and live bloodworm and insects.

Sexing:

Breeding In Captivity: The Vampire Crab is rare in the fact that it does not return to the Ocean to reproduce and breed on land laying 30-80 eggs that hatch into little versions of mum.