Neon Face Mangrove Crab - Perisesarma Eumolpe

The Neon Face Mangrove Crab Perisesarma eumolpe is a very pretty mangrove crab from the mangrove areas of the Indo-West Pacific. There it lives both on land and in the water, so it needs a land part and a water part also in the aquaterrarium. It has a special pubescence in the head area, which allows it to pump used water from the gills over these areas and thus "refuel" it with oxygen - so it can spend very long time out of the water. In addition to its bright red claws, this crab, which grows to only a medium size at 3 to 4 cm, combines brown or spotted to intensely blue or purple legs and a very dark dorsal carapace, which is decorated with yellow spots on adults. Their most unusual feature, however, are the variable colored, extremely conspicuous neon colored bands, which can be yellow, green or even turquoise blue. One of the very few crabs that can distinguish colors, this distinctly social group animal uses these colors to communicate. Adult strong animals, for example, often have turquoise blue bands that they use to signal their state of health to others, allowing them to nip conflicts in the bud. Furthermore, neon face mangrove crabs rub their claws together to produce sounds through which they also communicate with their conspecifics.

The males of the Neon Face mangrove crab have a very narrow abdominal flap, which is shaped like an elongated V. The females have a very narrow abdominal flap. The abdominal flap of females is U-shaped. Before mating, males shield the lady of their heart from rivals, but this does not usually result in a fight to the death. Carrying females of the Neon Face Mangrove Crab have a large number of bright yellow eggs under their abdominal flap, which hatch into larvae that need brackish water to develop. This species has not yet been reared in the hobby in Germany, but larval rearing should be similar to that of other mangrove crab species.

The Neon Face Mangrove Crab can be kept well with a water part with fresh water, but is very happy with a water part with brackish water. The land part in the aquaterrarium should be about 60%. Sand, coco humus, clay or terrarium soil is suitable as substrate. The substrate should be piled high enough to allow the mangrove crabs to dig their short living burrows. We recommend structuring the land part well with wood and stones and numerous hiding places, as well as offering at least one more exit from the water part than there are crabs in the aquaterrarium. For a group of up to five Perisesarma eumolpe an aquaterrarium from 60 cm is sufficient. Especially soft-leaved plants are eaten by the Neon Face Mangrove Crab, hard-leaved plants like some dragon tree species last a little longer. Plants from the flower store must first be kept outside the aquaterrarium for a few weeks and made completely soil-free before they are allowed into aquaterrariums.

For neon face mangrove crabs, the air temperature should be between 24 and 30°C, in the water 21 to 27°C is sufficient. In the water part, medium to hard fresh water as well as brackish water with a salt content of 8 to 20 g/l are possible. Please make sure that the aquaterrarium closes absolutely tight. Crabs also climb up silicone seams, they are eager and curious explorers and even get relatively heavy loose fitting lids open from the inside! Cables in the aquaterrarium should be given protection, they like to be nibbled on.

Neon Face Mangrove Crabs are extremely communicative and sociable group animals. Keeping them individually is not appropriate for the species! A group should consist of at least three to five animals. Provided the water section is large enough, they can also be socialized with shrimp or fish. They can also be kept together with other species of the genus Perisesarma and also with other mangrove crabs of similar size. Perisesarma eumolpe are recyclers rather than hunters, but they eat snails with fondness and great zeal.

The Neon Face Mangrove Crab is a scavenger and omnivore, with a distinct preference for plant foods. Varied food, through which the animals are well supplied with astaxanthin and carotene, is very important. A good diet manifests itself in bright colors, especially in the facial bands! Autumn leaves of deciduous trees, fruits and vegetables, algae and greens they like. To supplement this, feed protein once or twice a week: freeze-dried insects or stream fleas, frozen food, raw unseasoned fish or special food for crabs are suitable for this purpose. It is eaten both on the land part and under water.

Our food recommendation: Crabs in the wild tend to have a very varied diet. Most species are omnivores, and with the Natureholic Crab Feed Sticks we have taken this preference into account. They contain biologically balanced animal and vegetable components, which are also part of the natural food spectrum of omnivorous crabs in the field in such or such a similar way. The valuable ingredients of NatureHolic Crab Feed naturally support the molting, digestion, growth and reproduction of your crabs.

Our plant recommendation: For planting, use marsh plants, which are plants that are rooted in soil that is very wet or even submerged, but whose flowers and leaves are usually all or partially in the airspace and can be seen above the water surface. Thus, marsh plants are usually found on and in lakes and streams, but also on and in garden ponds or other bodies of water that provide them with a wet substrate, but still leave room for flowers and leaves to show to the outside.

Expert Tip: We recommend NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid when keeping invertebrates. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your invertebrates. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.