Vampire crab "Orange black eye" - Geosesarma spec.

The orange-purple Orange Black Eye Vampire Crab from Southeast Asia somewhat resembles the classic purple vampire crab Geosesarma dennerle, but probably belongs to a different, not yet described species and is therefore listed as Geosesarma sp. Vampire crabs are very popular in terraristics, firstly because of their beautiful colors, secondly because they do not eat plants and therefore can be kept in great planted wet terrariums. They are also relatively easy to keep and even breed. The Orange Black Eye Vampire Crab is a bit shy at first, but you can observe them in the terrarium during the day after a certain period of acclimation.

The Orange Black Eye Vampire Crab has bright purple claw arms, slightly darker purple legs, and a bright orange signal colored dorsal patch that covers the entire top of the carapace. Their eyes are strikingly dark. With a carapace diameter of about 2 to 3 cm, the Orange Black Eye Vampire Crab is a rather medium-sized Geosesarma species. Males of the Orange Black Eye Vampire Crab can be distinguished from females by the shape of the abdominal flap. In the male it describes an inverted V, in the females an upside down U.

The very social Orange Black Eye Vampire Crab is a social group animal that actively interacts with conspecifics and desperately needs their company. Please never keep them individually! It is best to keep a group of Geosesarma sp. "Orange Black Eye" in a species terrarium without the company of other terrarium animals, with the exception of white isopods or springtails as a scavenging party and live food supply. Specifically, vampire crabs should not be kept with other crab species or varieties.

The Orange Black Eye Vampire Crab is a semi-terrestrial crab. It is well adapted to living in a humid environment and therefore does not need a large water section in the humid terrarium. A bathing bowl with fresh water is sufficient, which should be about 10 cm deep at the maximum and should have exit possibilities. The Orange Black Eye Vampire Crab feels comfortable at an air temperature of 20 to 26 °C and a humidity of about 80-90%. It is best to keep the substrate in the humid terrarium permanently moist and additionally spray with water daily in the morning and evening. Alternatively, you can use a nebulizer. Geosesarma sp. "Orange Black Eye" likes to climb, so the doors and ventilation panels of the humid terrarium should always close flush.

A small group of 3 Orange Black Eye Vampire Crabs fits well in a diversely furnished terrarium cube from 40x40x40 cm, a group of 5-6 Orange Black Eye Geosesarma needs a terrarium from 60x30 cm floor space. A keeping with surplus of females is considered optimal - 2 males with 3-4 females would be a good composition of such a group of Geosesarma sp. "Orange Black Eye".

The bottom substrate in a species-appropriate crab terrarium for Geosesarma sp. "Orange Black Eye" is piled up about 10 cm high and moistened well. So the crabs can dig their short living caves in it. Ideal terrarium substrates are coco humus or terrarium humus. The terrarium for your group Geosesarma sp. "Orange Black Eye" can be planted densely and well. You have all possibilities with the plant selection, because these land crabs do not eat plants. Especially recommended are various perching plants, which remain unmolested by the digging activities of Orange Black Eye vampire crabs.

Geosesarma land crabs belong to the specialized reproductive type, in which females carry few but proportionally larger eggs. Here, instead of hatching larvae that would have to grow large in the water, they hatch fully developed miniatures of the parent animals. The young crabs of Geosesarma sp. "Orange Black Eye" are independent in the terrarium after hatching. The small Geosesarma are unfortunately quite cannibalistic among themselves, therefore the terrarium must be sufficiently large and offer the young crabs particularly many hiding places. Then nevertheless some young animals will grow up. If you want to breed the small Geosesarma sp. "Orange Black Eye", we advise to separate the young crabs early or at least to provide them with a separate rearing terrarium with extra many hiding places .

The Orange Black Eye Vampire Crab needs animal food, it does not like fruits and vegetables very much. To feed this Geosesarma species daily, we recommend a mix of high quality frozen food, FD food (freeze-dried insects or similar) and live food in the form of white isopods or springtails. A special food for carnivorous crabs is also very suitable for the Orange Black Eye Geosesarma. Springtails and white isopods even take care of dead plant remains in the wet terrarium and also uneaten food as an additional benefit.

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.