Can I mix vampire and moon crabs?

[hairycrab]

Hi. I was wondering if I could put vampire crabs and halloween moon crabs in the same tank since they look very similar. Why or why not would this be an OK idea? (Btw I've owned carribean hermit crabs for 4 years)

[KrabbyKris]

This is frowned upon. Hermit crabs are vulnerable during a molt to other species of crabs. In nature they would probably move away from other crabs but this isn't a option for them in captivity. Why cause them the extra stress? If you want to add another critter companion why not look into Isopods. They work with your hermies to clean your crabitat and provide a extra source of food for your crabs.(http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 26&t=92538)

You can always make a new tank for fiddler crabs, halloween crabs, or red-clawed crabs! Could be a fun adventure!

[Rawrgeous]

I will be honest, I don't know much about moon crabs or vampire crabs, but for the same reason mentioned above, the same probably applies to the moon and vampire crabs being housed together. That being said: I'm not very familiar with their care requirements, temperaments, etc. I don't think I would risk it though seeing how as moon crabs can be extremely territorial and cannot even be housed with other males of the same species or they fight to the death.

[hairycrab]

Oh Ok. I never though of Halloween crabs like they're hermit crabs but ok. I thought sites said they're more related to replies.

[KrabbyKris]

Hi. I was wondering if I could put vampire crabs and halloween moon crabs in the same tank

My bad I thought you were talking about putting vampire or Halloween crabs with hermit crabs. I'm sorry lol. I would keep them separate regardless though!

[purpletiger]

I've had moon/halloween crabs before. They're aggressive towards anything else, including one another. I had one bully the other one for months. until finally catching it after a molt, killing and eating it.

Unless you have a humongous habitat, with plenty of spaces for them to get away and hide, I would house one of these crabs in a habitat. If you want multiple crabs, I'd get more habitats. Like instead of putting two crabs in a 20 gallon, get 2 10 gallons instead.

[KrabbyKris]

I've had moon/halloween crabs before. They're aggressive towards anything else, including one another.

Good info. Thanks for sharing. I was looking into getting some halloween crabs one day.

[hairycrab]

I'm just a little confused still because I saw one person say one time that female moon crabs aren't aggressive. Wouldn't it just work to have female moon and female vampire crabs together?

[PinchersAndShells]

If you mean me, I meant that females won't have the same spats that males have with each other, but they do still have the potential to be aggressive.

[hairycrab]

I guess I'll just be happy with hermits for now til I'm old enough to get a job and money for more tanks to keep the species separate. I'm gonna fill my house with animals when I grow up! (Maybe) thx for answering my questions ppl

[Orin]

Vampire crabs are tiny compared to moon crabs, you could fit a whole vampire in a moon crab's claw. Moon crabs are not very predatory but if they wanted to they could chew up a vampire in ten minutes.

[Dragonfire1577]

The moon crabs would likely kill the vampires also the moon crabs need a brackish water table so they can build a deep burrow that eventually hits this water plus they require a fresh and salt water dish like hermits while the vampire crabs depending on species usually need jungle conditions and only fresh water since many live quite far from the sea.