Description
State Restrictions
Vampire Crabs cannot be shipped to Maine due to state regulations. Questions? Contact [email protected] before placing your order.
IMPORTANT: Vampire Crab Habitat Requirements
Vampire Crabs are semi-terrestrial animals and are NOT fully aquatic. They require a paludarium with both land and freshwater areas and should not be maintained in a traditional aquarium. We also recommend keeping only a single Vampire Crab species per enclosure.
B-Grade Notice
B-Grade Notice: These healthy specimens may display minor cosmetic imperfections, less developed coloration, or missing and regenerating limbs.
Species Overview
The White Mandarin Vampire Crab (Geosesarma notophorum) is one of the most elegant and unusual members of the increasingly popular Geosesarma genus. Distinguished by its creamy white to ivory-colored claws, striking golden-yellow eyes, and deep purple to burgundy body coloration, this remarkable species offers a beautiful contrast that immediately captures attention in a well-designed paludarium. Their calm demeanor and fascinating terrestrial lifestyle make them an outstanding choice for hobbyists looking to experience a truly unique freshwater crab.
The White Mandarin Vampire Crabs offered by Aquatic Arts are carefully quarantined and conditioned before shipment and are selected for their excellent health and vibrant coloration. Like all members of the Geosesarma genus, they are semi-terrestrial, spending the majority of their lives on land while regularly visiting shallow freshwater areas to drink, molt, and maintain proper hydration.
Unlike fully aquatic freshwater crabs, White Mandarin Vampire Crabs thrive in humid paludariums that provide a rich combination of mosses, tropical plants, cork bark, driftwood, leaf litter, climbing branches, and numerous hiding places. Their natural curiosity keeps them constantly exploring every level of the enclosure, making them one of the most entertaining crustaceans available to paludarium enthusiasts.
One of the most rewarding aspects of keeping White Mandarin Vampire Crabs is observing their social interactions. When maintained in properly sized colonies with abundant hiding places and visual barriers, they establish loose territories while remaining surprisingly peaceful toward one another. Watching several crabs forage together through botanicals and mosses creates an incredibly natural display that closely resembles their native rainforest habitat.
White Mandarin Vampire Crabs are excellent ambassadors for the growing world of paludarium keeping. Their brilliant coloration, manageable size, fascinating behavior, and relatively straightforward care requirements make them an exceptional choice for both experienced crab keepers and hobbyists looking to build their first tropical crab enclosure.
What We Love About This Crab
• Beautiful ivory-white claws contrasted against a rich burgundy to purple body
• Brilliant golden-yellow eyes that seem to glow under natural lighting
• Active, curious behavior with constant climbing and exploration
• Excellent species for naturalistic tropical paludariums and rainforest displays
• Can be maintained in peaceful colonies when provided with ample space and hiding places
Quick Care Guide
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful to Mildly Territorial
Diet: Omnivore (Invertebrates, Fruits, Vegetables, and Prepared Foods)
Maximum Adult Size: Approximately 1.5–2 Inches
Minimum Enclosure Size: 10 Gallons
Lifestyle: Semi-Terrestrial
Social Behavior: Best Kept in Colonies with Multiple Hiding Places
Origin: Indonesia
Approximate Purchase Size: 0.75–1.25 Inches
Tank Parameters
Temperature: 72° to 82° F (22° to 28° C)
pH: 6.5 to 8.0
GH: 4 to 16 dGH
KH: 2 to 10 dKH
Water Type: Freshwater (Shallow Water Area Required)
Humidity: 75 to 90%
Land to Water Ratio: Approximately 80% Land / 20% Shallow Freshwater
