I have been looking at a species of land crab called the Barbados Vampire crab. I was thinking of getting some in a sloped tank with part land and part saltwater. Does anyone know anything about their care?
Thanks.
Barbados Vampire Crabs?
-
crablover1234
Topic author - Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:44 pm
- Location: Salt Lake City, UT
- Contact:
Barbados Vampire Crabs?
Check out my store! - The Hermit Crab Store - http://www.hermitcrabstore.weebly.com
The link may not work so just type it in manually if you want to check it out! Thanks.
7 PPs- Mango, Papaya, Professor Pinch, Lightning, Goofy, Kiwi, and Mr Crabs
The link may not work so just type it in manually if you want to check it out! Thanks.
7 PPs- Mango, Papaya, Professor Pinch, Lightning, Goofy, Kiwi, and Mr Crabs
-
wodesorel
- Tech Support
- Posts: 10594
- Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:49 am
- Location: Leetonia, Ohio
- Contact:
Re: Barbados Vampire Crabs?
They aren't like fiddlers, so the set-up you describe wouldn't work well for them. Half-underwater tanks are a challenge anyways as just like when our hermit crab tanks flood, having constantly wet substrate leads to harmful bacterial growth and a very smelly tank. Having done it for a few months, I would never recommend a set-up like that to anyone!
Geosesarma sp. are a true land crab, although they need freshwater to dunk in and damp tanks since they're from the tropics. They're also the easiest crab species to breed as they carry the eggs with them on land and pop out fully-formed little clones of themselves when it's time to hatch! I would encourage you to try and find a local breeder if at all possible as the captive bred ones will fair much better that their wild caught counterparts.
Brackish water may be appreciated as well, but these crabs do great in a variety of set-ups from freshwater palludariums with lots of land area to full land tanks with small pools for them to visit. (Much like our hermit crab tanks, but wetter and with more areas to hide. Think messy tangles of branches and plants like you would have for dart frogs.) There's not a ton of information out there, but the basics are land, some water, lots of moisture and humidity, and tropical temperatures (75 to 80 degrees).
They need a heavy meat diet along with plant sources like algae and moss, and should be supplemented with calcium. They are also hunters and will take live prey like crickets, small insects like springtails, and even earthworms.
Tanks can support multiple females, but only one male without territorial fights to the death.
Really fascinating animals, and they are next on my list (along with moon crabs) as soon as I can scrounge up a tank and a spot in the house for them.
Geosesarma sp. are a true land crab, although they need freshwater to dunk in and damp tanks since they're from the tropics. They're also the easiest crab species to breed as they carry the eggs with them on land and pop out fully-formed little clones of themselves when it's time to hatch! I would encourage you to try and find a local breeder if at all possible as the captive bred ones will fair much better that their wild caught counterparts.
Brackish water may be appreciated as well, but these crabs do great in a variety of set-ups from freshwater palludariums with lots of land area to full land tanks with small pools for them to visit. (Much like our hermit crab tanks, but wetter and with more areas to hide. Think messy tangles of branches and plants like you would have for dart frogs.) There's not a ton of information out there, but the basics are land, some water, lots of moisture and humidity, and tropical temperatures (75 to 80 degrees).
They need a heavy meat diet along with plant sources like algae and moss, and should be supplemented with calcium. They are also hunters and will take live prey like crickets, small insects like springtails, and even earthworms.
Tanks can support multiple females, but only one male without territorial fights to the death.
Really fascinating animals, and they are next on my list (along with moon crabs) as soon as I can scrounge up a tank and a spot in the house for them.
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram