Vampire crabs and moon crabs

[Jimbob]

I have recently become interested in both of these crabs(I know they are very different, but figured I'd condense into one thread). I've been reading random articles around the internet, but hear all kinds of different things on how to keep each of them. I don't mean to ask you guys to spoon feed me information on their care, but is there a reliable source anyone can point me towards? I'm always open to hear anyone's experiences with either of these too.

I have an old aquarium laying around that is in the 20ish to 40 gallon range. I can't remember exactly, I have to go measure the dimensions and do the math. It is taller than the typical 10 gallon aquarium... I was hoping a couple moon crabs could be possible with this size. I've heard they like deep substrate for burrows. For the vampire crabs, I would probably fork out some money on a nice little display tank to make a paludarium.

This would all be a little while down the road, I have a lot going on ATM. Thought I'd start learning and planning now though.

 

[mantisfan101]

Moon crabs from what i’ve heard like deeper substrate and need access to both fresh and saltwater. The larger the tak, the better and floor space is mich more important than height. Vampire crabs are relatively uncommon and still new to the hobby in the US but some websites like petzonesd.com should carry some. Keep them like dart frogs with a little bit more water flow and you should be good but I’ve never kept them. If you want more info maybe check out @Elytra and Antenna ’s book about them; it’s fairly recent and although it’s a bit pricey I can guarantee you that it’ll help out a lot.

 

[Jimbob]

Moon crabs from what i’ve heard like deeper substrate and need access to both fresh and saltwater. The larger the tak, the better and floor space is mich more important than height. Vampire crabs are relatively uncommon and still new to the hobby in the US but some websites like petzonesd.com should carry some. Keep them like dart frogs with a little bit more water flow and you should be good but I’ve never kept them. If you want more info maybe check out @Elytra and Antenna ’s book about them; it’s fairly recent and although it’s a bit pricey I can guarantee you that it’ll help out a lot.

Thank you man, you're always coming through on threads. I'll definitely take a look at that book.

As for the moon crabs, I wouldn't go with all height, but I was thinking with their need for deep substrate, one would probably want a taller tank to fit it? I read that they don't submerge in water much, so a bowl of fresh and salt would probably do?

 

[Jimbob]

Also, how do I find that book? Lol

 

[pannaking22]

Check out Orin McMonigle's new book. I don't have it, but I think that should have all the info you need. Should be on Amazon.

Edit: Screen didn't refresh and I had the window open for a while so I didn't see someone beat me to it by a good hour lol.

 

[Jimbob]

Just making sure, is this the book you guys are talking about?

Breeding the Vampire and Other Crabs: (Brachyura and Anomura in Captivity)

 

[Arthroverts]

Yes, by Orin McMonigle. Awesome looking book, I'd love to get it one day.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[Jimbob]

So for the moon crabs... can anyone tell me what size tank(gallons/dimensions) they should have with how deep of substrate? Also can they/should they be kept together?

I've heard of people keeping them in up to 1.5 ft of substrate?! And I've heard they fight, meanwhile others say they like company?

 

[Arthroverts]

@DR zuum might be able to help with the Vampire Crabs. As for the Moon Crabs, there is not a lot of information out there from what I've seen.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[SonsofArachne]

I've had both. Let me just say crabs are tricky, unlike T's and scorpions. Especially vampire crabs. They're mostly wild caught, and most wild caught ones die.

 

[Jimbob]

Anyway to get CB? I'm up for the challenge of tricky critters. I'm mainly a reptile guy, keeping Panthers and a Parsons chameleon, but have recently gotten more into inverts. I love the idea of going all out to put together a perfect system so if there's a possibility of successfully keeping them, I'd like to try!

 

[SonsofArachne]

Anyway to get CB? I'm up for the challenge of tricky critters. I'm mainly a reptile guy, keeping Panthers and a Parsons chameleon, but have recently gotten more into inverts. I love the idea of going all out to put together a perfect system so if there's a possibility of successfully keeping them, I'd like to try!

Should have posted this before, this thread has a lot of info from people more knowledgeable than me on this subject.

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/1s...osesarma-dennerle-purple-vampire-crab.320211/

 

[Jimbob]

Thank you that's a very helpful thread! The ozone is a cool idea, never used that before.

 

[SonsofArachne]

AntsCanada put out this Youtube video recently about keeping vampire crabs. I just watched it, it's pretty interesting.

 

[DR zuum]

That would work microfauna,filtered water only concern I would have in that size enclosure is fighting the males are very territorial. Or go with 1 male 3 or 4 females. I'm running 2 male 6 female in the 200 they are in I used the big tank as I had it only holds water up to 8 inches so. Also when I kept them in a 20 gal never once saw any eggs, in this big one 2 females are now carrying eggs. The babies i had hatched out on my own died , temp dropped down into 70 and they died so I can only assume the babies are way more sensitive to lower temp than the adults . If/when these eggs hatch I'm going to just leave them in the big tank temp inside the tank is constant 80 and the mirofauna should prevent cannibalism .

 

[DR zuum]

On the Moon crabs not true 100% freshwater any attempt to keep them in freshwater not semi brackish will fail. I kept some back in Vegas along with the patriot crabs separate tanks of course. You need to run under brackish around 1009-1011specific gravity, 75 - 80 temp, definitely need running filtered water for moon or patriot crabs 1009-1011 close enough to fresh and brackish from which they alternate in the wild. They are also a bit more aggressive , on my post on vampire crabs I listed some sources to buy all these crabs species. Also during molting you need to remove anybody that isn't molting or possibly risk them eating the crab that's molting . Bad story about that had a pair , the male actually protected the female while she molted, his turn came he was molting I noticed looked in all looked good I went to the store got home She was eating his brain I was going through a divorce at the time and the injustice of him protecting her while she molted and her killing and eating his brain was poignant to me at the time, without thinking I grabbed her and hurled her against the wall. Of course she was just being a crab and I fully understand that but at that moment well.........

 

[DR zuum]

Also the hardiest crab I have ever kept were the Moon , patriot, and Thai soapdish crabs called warrior crabs now they come in purple,red,yellow,blue,greenish solid body color also crabs colors fade out a lot right before a molt just like tarantulas.

 

[DR zuum]

Also the hardiest crab I have ever kept were the Moon , patriot, and Thai soapdish crabs called warrior crabs now they come in purple,red,yellow,blue,greenish solid body color also crabs colors fade out a lot right before a molt just like tarantulas patriot crab,rainbow crab pic below.

 

[KevinsWither]

Who has vampire crabs?

 

[Gogyeng]

AntsCanada put out this Youtube video recently about keeping vampire crabs. I just watched it, it's pretty interesting.

Cool. Hopefully he will not force them to do fencing on each other, like his beetles ...