Vampire crab (Geosesarma dennerle) care guide

Group
Other invertebrates
Other names
Purple vampire crab, Dennerle vampire crab, Geosesarma sp. 'Vampire'
Family
Sesarmidae
Origin
Endemic to Central Java, Indonesia; burrows in muddy, rocky, well-vegetated creek valleys
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
5 cm
Temperature
22–27°C
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Lifespan
2 years

Care

The vampire crab is a small, mainly land-living crab from Central Java. Its squarish shell is mostly purple with a cream-to-yellow patch on the back; it has bright yellow eyes (the source of the name), violet claws and long thin legs. Legspan is about 3.8–5 cm and males are slightly larger. It was described in 2015 and named after the Dennerle aquarium company. 'Vampire crab' is a trade name used for several Geosesarma species, and this one looks very like G. bicolor. Set-up: a paludarium, not an aquarium. Give it mostly land, with damp soil, moss, leaf litter, plants, wood and caves to burrow and hide, plus a shallow freshwater pool it can climb out of easily. Keep the humidity high and the lid tight: these crabs are excellent climbers and escape through tiny gaps. The temperature figure is general guidance rather than from a source; keep it warm but not hot, and spray with dechlorinated water. Keep one male with two or more females, or a small group in a larger paludarium. Behaviour: secretive, hiding in burrows by day and becoming bolder in a well-planted tank. Lifespan figure is general hobby guidance (about two years), not from a source. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and read the label of any treatment, fertiliser or algae remover before use. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosesarmadennerle). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Omnivorous: mostly insects and plant matter in the wild. Offer small live or frozen insects (fruit flies, small crickets, bloodworm), shrimp and crab pellets, fish flakes and pieces of fruit and vegetables. Remove leftovers before they go mouldy.

Breeding

Easy to breed for a crab because it develops directly, entirely in fresh water. Crabs mature at about six months. Males have a narrow, pointed abdominal flap and females a wide, oval one. The female carries 20–80 large eggs (1.2–1.8 mm) under her abdomen for about a month, and fully formed miniature crabs hatch and disperse straight away. Move the female or the young to a separate tank, as adults may eat babies.

Compatibility and tank mates

Best in a species paludarium. It will catch small fish, shrimp and snails that come within reach, and males squabble. Small, fast fish in a separate water section are possible, but crabs and fish are usually kept apart.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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