About
Known for their vibrant purple coloring and stand-out yellow eyes, vampire crabs are a spectacle—if you can spot them. The tiny crabs, which measure only an inch and a half wide, live in Indonesia. There they thrive in warm humidity and in thickly planted areas with wet soil along freshwater streams.
Staying near water, mud, and foliage gives the crabs access to plenty of their preferred diet staples. Even at their tiny size, they scavenge for bigger prey like fish, shrimp, and crickets, as well as plant matter; protein-rich algae is a favorite.
Like their namesake monsters, vampire crabs can be aggressive attackers outside of their species. Unlike vampires of folklore, they don’t even have teeth; toothlike structures in their stomachs help break up food.
Vampire crabs rose in popularity among hobbyists when they were introduced into the pet trade about a decade ago. As demand rises for home aquarium use, over-collection is a concern for wild populations. Since they are relatively new to human care, keepers at the Zoo are learning more as they observe the crabs, especially when it comes to breeding. The female carries 20-80 eggs on her belly, then they hatch into fully formed crabs about the size of a grain of sand and disperse. There is no larval stage and no maternal care.
Neonates use moisture to aid in the molting process, which happens frequently when crabs are young and growing rapidly. As they reach adulthood, molting takes place only about once a month.
Habitat
Vampire crabs of native to Indonesia. They thrive in warm humidity and in thickly planted areas with wet soil along freshwater streams. Neonates use moisture to help molt their exoskeletons as they constantly grow, while adults molt only once a month. Adults spend about 80 to 95 percent of their time on land and love to burrow in the soil.
Diet
Vampire crabs are scavengers. Even at their tiny size, vampire crabs can eat bigger prey like fish, shrimp, and crickets. They will often choose pieces several times their size and carry it back to crevices to enjoy. Plant matter is also a part of the crabs’ diet; protein-rich algae is a favorite.
Physical Characteristics
There are many species of vampire crab, and most are very colorful, but Geosesarma dennerle have the famed purple body and yellow eyes. Females are not solid purple but have cream colored bands. Fully grown adults measure one to two inches across, including legs.
LOCATION WITHIN THE ZOO
You’ll find this animal in the LAIR. See Zoo Map.
