Vampire Crab

Geosesarma dennerle, the Vampire Crab, is a visually dramatic semi-terrestrial crab from Sulawesi with a vivid purple carapace and luminous yellow eyes that inspired its striking common name. It thrives in paludarium setups that replicate its natural forest stream habitat, with both land areas for foraging and shallow water sections for bathing and moulting. One of the more accessible Geosesarma for captive breeding, as it reproduces entirely in freshwater.

House in a paludarium of at least 40 L with a substantial land area and shallow water sections. Provide tropical humidity, leaf litter, mosses, and hiding places such as cork bark and coconut halves. Feed a varied omnivore diet: leaf litter, fruits, fish flakes, and protein sources. Maintain temperature 22–28°C, pH 7.5–8.5. Multiple crabs can coexist in well-structured setups.