Vampire Crab sp. 'Orange'

The Vampire Crab sp. 'Orange' is a trade form of undescribed Geosesarma displaying vibrant tangerine to burnt-orange coloration across the carapace and dorsal surfaces. This warm-toned form provides excellent visual contrast against green moss and dark substrate in paludarium setups, making it one of the more popular colour variants in the European hobby.

Care follows the standard Geosesarma template: a paludarium with a dominant moist land area, shallow water section, tropical substrate, and dense moss coverage is essential. Like all vampire crabs, the 'Orange' form is a direct developer that bypasses free-swimming larval stages, releasing fully formed miniature juveniles after the female's brooding period.

This form is generally hardy and forgiving of minor parameter fluctuations compared to some rarer species, provided temperature and humidity remain within acceptable ranges. It accepts a wide variety of foods and is active during both day and night. A tight-fitting lid is critical as Geosesarma are skilled climbers that will exploit any gap in the enclosure.

Water: 23–28°C, pH 7.5–8.0, GH 6–15, KH 3–10; shallow section 3–5 cm; dechlorinated only. Tank: minimum 30 L paludarium; 60–70% moist land, tropical soil, moss, cork hides, leaf litter; escape-proof lid. Feeding: omnivore — dried insects, fruit flies, blanched vegetables, sinking invertebrate pellets; feed small amounts daily. Breeding: direct developer; female broods 20–60 eggs; juveniles independent immediately upon emergence. Compatibility: 1 male to 2–3 females; no fish; do not house with competing crab species.