Vampire Crab
Geosesarma dennerle
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 2–3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 45 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
Species profile
Red Devil Crab
Geosesarma hagen
Common names: Red Devil Crab, Red Devil Vampire Crab, Geosesarma Red Devil
Recognized speciesVampire Crabs
Adult size
Up to 3 cm
Typical adult length 2–3 cm.
Up to 3 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Intermediate shrimp keepers
- Peaceful nano aquariums
- Breeding colonies
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A small red-and-dark semi-terrestrial crab from Java that requires a humid, escape-proof paludarium with substantial land area.
Appearance and Identification
Dark purple to nearly black carapace and legs with vivid red to orange claws and contrasting yellow to orange eyes.
Geosesarma hagen is a recognized species described from Java. It is often confused with other red-clawed Geosesarma trade forms, so provenance and full colour pattern should be checked.
Males have a narrow pointed abdominal flap; females have a broader rounded abdominal flap for brooding eggs.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 90–140 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 45 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 45 cm
- Minimum group size
- 3
- Recommended group size
- 5
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- High
Use a secure paludarium with roughly 70–80% humid land, shallow accessible freshwater, deep leaf litter, cork, roots, moss, and multiple shelters. Seal every cable and lid gap.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Semi-terrestrial, crepuscular crab that forages across damp land, leaf litter, wood, and shallow freshwater margins.
Can live in a carefully balanced group with more females than males and many visual barriers.
Males may defend shelters and small areas, especially in cramped enclosures.
Best kept in a species-focused paludarium. Small aquatic animals, shrimp, snails, and vulnerable crabs may be hunted.
Water Parameters
This is a semi-terrestrial crab and requires a humid paludarium with access to both land and freshwater. Keep water warm, mineralized, and clean.
Parameter caveat
This is not a fully aquatic crab. Permanent deep-water housing is inappropriate.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore, Scavenger
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Small invertebrate foodUse complete crab or crustacean food in controlled portions.
- Frozen or live invertebrate foodOffer small prey items such as insect larvae or similar foods.
- Leaf litter and plant matterProvides cover, grazing, and supplemental organic material.
Omnivorous scavenger and small predator. Feed varied animal-based and plant-based foods on land.
Remove uneaten animal food promptly to prevent mold and water-quality problems.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Direct Developer, Land-Breeding Crab
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding temperature
- 24 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7
- Brood or egg count
- Small brood of large eggs
- Incubation
- 35 days
- Parental care
- Maternal care
- Baby foods
- Fine complete crab food and micro-invertebrate foodsProvide many tiny land shelters and frequent small meals.
Females brood relatively large eggs and release fully formed miniature crabs without a marine larval stage.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Indonesia, Java
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater Edge, Stream Bank, Tropical Forest Floor
- Aquarium contexts
- Paludarium, Species-Only Enclosure
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Geosesarma
- Family
- Sesarmidae
- Species group
- Vampire Crabs
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