Thai Forest Crab Esanthelphusa dugasti

Esanthelphusa dugasti is a freshwater forest crab native to the humid montane and lowland jungle habitats of Thailand, belonging to the family Potamidae. It inhabits small forest streams, rocky seepages, and moist leaf-litter-covered ground, making it a semi-terrestrial species in its natural environment. Adults display a smooth, moderately domed carapace in warm brown to reddish-tan colouration with sturdy chelae.

In captivity, E. dugasti thrives in a paludarium or large vivarium offering both a shallow freshwater section and a generous land area with moist tropical soil. Dense moss coverage, leaf litter, cork bark caves, and embedded root structures replicate its forest-floor microhabitat. Humidity must remain high — 70–80% — at all times.

This species is a direct developer, meaning females brood fertilised eggs under the abdominal flap and release fully formed miniature juveniles, bypassing any free-swimming larval phase. Diet in the wild consists of leaf litter, invertebrates, fallen fruit, and organic detritus, all of which are easily replicated in captivity with dried insects, blanched vegetables, sinking pellets, and Indian almond leaves.

Water: 22–26°C, pH 7.0–7.8, GH 5–15, KH 2–10; shallow section only; dechlorinated, no copper. Tank: minimum 40 L paludarium; moist tropical soil, living moss, leaf litter, cork bark hides; 60–70% land area. Feeding: omnivore — dried insects, blanched vegetables, leaf litter, sinking pellets, occasional fruit pieces; feed daily. Breeding: direct developer; female broods eggs under abdomen; miniature juveniles fully independent on emergence. Compatibility: one male to 2–3 females; do not mix with fish; incompatible with shrimp or competing crab species.