Crabs in the terrarium
Many crabs live both on land and in water. These species are almost classically suitable for keeping in an aquaterrarium or paludarium. When keeping crabs in a terrarium, it is very important that the terrarium closes tightly without gaps and that the crabs cannot escape. In good conditions, some crab species can even reproduce in the aquaterrarium.
Mangrove crabs, fiddler crabs and harlequin crabs in the terrarium
Mangrove crabs are a gregarious crab family that should not be kept individually. The small representatives like the Green Mangrove Crab and the Marble C rab can be kept well in groups in planted aquaterrariums. They do not nibble at the plants and also leave the furnishings largely alone.
The larger specimens such as the red mangrove cra b, on the other hand, like to eat terrarium plants, but such a crab terrarium can also be beautifully designed. Many roots and stones as climbing possibilities, a relatively deep bottom, so that the crabs can dig nicely, and plants with hard foliage can be used for the design of the aquaterrarium. The water part may gladly be generous and, depending on the species, can consist of freshwater, brackish water or seawater. Some crab species are also happy to have a water section with freshwater and a water section with seawater in their terrarium.
The requirements of the fiddler crab are quite similar, and although it is also not a candidate for a heavily planted aquaterrarium, it still has its own unique appeal as a terrarium crab. Fiddler crabs are also highly socially organized crustaceans and therefore must be kept in a species-appropriate group setting.
The Harlequin crab, on the other hand, is a rather quarrelsome terrarium animal that likes to live individually in the terrarium and should be kept in pairs with a conspecific of the opposite sex at most in a very well furnished terrarium environment - but also only in large aquaterrariums with plenty of hiding places to keep stress to a minimum for the crabs.
Land crabs or vampire crabs in terrariums and paludariums
Land crabs from the genus Geosesarma from Southeast Asia, also known as vampire crabs, on the other hand, are not only mega beautiful and colorful, but also very well tolerated. They can and should - because of their active social behavior - always be kept in groups. Please do not mix the colors! The species do not understand each other, a colorful mix can therefore lead to nasty fights with loss of limbs.
The Geosesarma land crabs do not need a huge water part, but they actually like to bathe their feet in a shallow water bowl with fresh water. Geosesarma also like to go into the water to molt. An aquaterrarium for these pretty colorful jewels in crab form can be well planted. Geosesarma are carnivores and hunters and leave plants completely alone. In a well planted tropical terrarium with high humidity and possibly a nebulizer, the colorful land crabs feel very comfortable.
Geosesarma come in many bright colors: black with red claws, purple-purple with yellow eyes, purple-orange, tomato red with dark brown, orange or blue-purple.