r/VampireCrabs

So I’m new to keeping crabs (honestly I haven’t actually even got them yet) I have spent a lot of time researching and finally started to set up my enclosure!

I have a 65L tank (15/20gal I think?) and have tried to stick to the 80 land 20 water, there’s some lava rocks and mesh with soil on the top giving them a lot of burrowing depth, I’ve added a filter and heater to my water to keep the temps right and today I added the branch, some creeping fig and polka dot plant and have a pothos on order, added my springtails and I’m waiting on some spikey Java moss for the rocks and some moss for land too, is there anything else I should add? I’m going to wait 4-8 weeks for everything to establish before I get crabs I just want everything to be good so they live a good life :D

Picture of where I’m at currently

These pics are of my new Pp in an Eccie preferred shell. Second pic is him/.her coming out of its shell for the first time to see me, listening to my voice and getting ready to explore. The first pic is of him/her resting on a stick in my tank. It never went to hide or bury itself after I brought it home, becauseI spent 1 hour talking to it. I have a unique way to introduce crabs to my Crabitat and none of my crabs HIDE !!

Not many would agree with what I do when introducing a new Hermie to my group of Eccies & PP. when I adopt or rescue a new crab, I place my crab in a container along with popcorn or other interesting food. Then I sit with the container on my lap or beside me on the couch. I sit with my new crabs (s) and talk to it for 1 hour. Sure it Will be frightened and tucked securely in its shell. As I talk to it and mmmmake some of my strange sounds, the crab will come out, very slowly. It’s adorable and amazing to watch as you will see the claws one by one slowly come out. It’s not until you can see its eyes and it can see you, is the a connection made. There is nothing like it. Such a fascinating little creature coming out to the sound of you speaking gently to it. There is lots for me to say. I tell it about its new home and that it is safe with be, that I’m going to look after it. My new crab found the the food, often popcorn because they love it and would start eating . Then it would go about trying . climb out of the container where I would put my hand to block it. Sometimes it would turn around and explore more and sometimes it wlll crawl on my hand and arm. II would let it do that for a bit then back into th container. That hour goes by so fast my little guy now it’s time to put you into your new home. Because of spending 1 hour with new crab, it has gotten to know me a bit. It will still be frightened but it wont hide hie from myself or other
Crabs. Here is a picture of my most recent little guy who I spent time with and handled only long enough to place in my tank. Then hands-off !!!

I am planning on building a paludarium for vampire crab, red cherry shrimp and Emerald Rasbora - like in this video - https://youtu.be/RgUiCWSull8

I am stuck choosing the right enclosure. Exo terra 90x45x60 or exo terra 90x45x90 or a large aquarium!

I wanted to take a large aquarium with custom made lid, as I wanted to have a larger water section with shrimps and rasborars shown in the video. But Gemini keeps telling me it would stress out the crabs whenever I do maintanance from the top.

Then I considered exo terra 90x45x90 as it has deeper water section. But gemini again tells me that the height of it would cause problem as the light would not reach properly.

Before commiting into anyone of these I wanted to ask you all with real life experiences. Which one should I choose?

I set up this paludarium and introduced 5 crabs two weeks ago. However, all of the died. (The last one died today). What could be the issue? Is it because the crabs have difficulties climbing into the water section?

The water parameter seems okay. I have cherry shrimps in the water and they are doing fine.

I know it's sad but I was excited to find out there's a website called "cut my" that allows you to upload custom designs for acrylic sheets and cuts them for you. I ended up using Claude to generate a DXF file for my pump housing. It's probably something I could've done myself to a far worse degree but thought I'd give them a go and pretty happy with the results.

I was cleaning out my little tank, and suddenly I see movement in the gravel, thought it was amphipods but not its full of baby vampire crabs

Just released 2 of 3 into my cycled paludarium. Closer look at #3 appears to have a little different coloration do I want to confirm before I put it in (want to avoid mixing species).

Just purchased at a show, seller was clueless so no help there.

Hi all!

First time crab keeper, but we've wanted them for a long time and finally we're planning a set up for the kids to enjoy as well.

I have a spare 20 gallon aquarium that's water tight, what I'd like to make is a paladarium with a floating landmass about 6" up so I can have a water area for some shrimp and smaller fish below them. Crabs would still be getting about 80+% of land mass. We're also thinking of adding a colony of isopods, well aware that the crabs will likely eat some of them but not concerned if they breed. I guess more than anything I'm looking for some advice as to how to ensure the crabs don't drown in the water somehow. Would having the filter act as a waterfall into a small basin work better than just having it flow into the forest Edge?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

Hi everyone, I finished this enclosure for vampire crabs (20gallon long) but debating if I should leave the dirt as is or cover some areas with moss. Also appreciate any feedback to make it safer for them. Thanks!

Hi! I'm new to this sub and I would love some feedback on how to make this tank better suited for Vampire crabs. I revamped the tank today (empty tank) and thought Vamps might be a neat addition since its a 25 gal but am not sure how to make it better.

Right now, it's probably around 30% land 70% water and I'd like to add more plants.

It has a 5 gallon filter in it and I'm gonna grab a heater and some more structures.

I'm more than willing to revamp it for the second time to accommodate Vamps, or if you have ideas for a more aquatic creature that would fit the current set, up please let me know!

Water dish isn’t a forsure thing , nor am i getting vampire crabs right away. Thinking of water 2 months for plants and clean up crew to establish

I messaged Exo Terra about one of their Pro enclosures, and they said none of their Pro enclosures are meant to hold water and to either buy their new Paludarium line or find an old Exo Terra and re-silicone the bottom.

I went to a local reptile store and they only had the Pro Exo Terra enclosures :(

I want to get Halloween vampire crabs or red devil, and I know they’re more terrestrial than arboreal so I’m not sure I want to buy an explicit paludarium enclosure because they’re all so TALL.

What are yalls thoughts? Would the paludarium enclosures work for some terrestrial vampire crabs?

Edit: those are all very good points, a traditional aquarium tank would be more accessible and cheaper. Petco and Petsmart still have some deals on 20 gallon long tanks, I might do that!

Found it in the water section this morning, hollow eyes and almost no weight with no odor. Google says a molt I just want to be sure. Sorry I’m a beginner and this would be the first molt in my tank.