How to Care for Geosesarma: Enclosures

How to Care for Geosesarma: Enclosures are the first step!

Best way to begin caring for Geosesarma is setting up the enclosure or the Paludarium: Setting up the water feature. 

At its most basic care for Geosesarma, also known as Vamptire Crabs, must consist of being kept in an enclosure with both a land feature and also a fresh-water feature. Percentages of each vary from 70/30% to 80/20%, land and water, respectively, and this is what we call a paludarium. When deciding how to build your tank to provide the best care for these vampire crabs, you want to make sure that the water feature in the tank is deep enough for the crabs to molt in, so at a minimum around 2.5-3in or deeper will work. If you have your the paludarium set up with the proper ratio of land to water then your journey into the proper care for Geosesarma is on the right track!

Another importnat aspect for Geosesarma care is these crabs are somewhat social animals but group sizing needs be adjusted depending on the tank dimensions to provide them with the best care. Regardless of group totals, Geosesarma should always be kept in groups with a ratio bias that leans towards more females over males. For example a group of one male and two females would be able to coexisit in a minimum tank size of 12"x12"x12". Geosesarma will always appreciate more room though if given. Some species do not do well if enclosures are not set up with the specific territory needs of Geosesarma and fighting can occur in some species more than others, but a 24"x12"x12" enclosure, depending on species, could accomodate a group of two males and four females. Larger groups may be possible in larger tanks. One of the most important aspects to care for these crabs is to never mix species of Geosesarma together in the same tank or mix together other types of crabs; the former can lead to disastrous, and frowned upon, cross breeding and the later will end in death, for some, or all of the crabs, as Geosesarma, crabs are territorial by nature especially for members outside their species or genus. 

Best ways to set up the land section for optimal Geosesarma care: 

Not often talked about when it comes to caring for Geosesarma and the best way to set up the enclosures is the importance of climbing space in the paludarium which utilizes more of the maximum foot print in the enclosure by offering a variety of resources for territory. When designing vampire crab tanks one should incorporate three dimensional hardscape pieces that offer the ability for climbing and territory establishment on more than only the linear substrate floor surface. Geosesarma can, and will be, be observed ultizing plants such as bromeliads in captivity, and there is even a relationship between the pitcher plant Nepenthes ampullaria and Geosesarma peraccae living sympatically with one another in the wild, to read more about that click here! So if you want to provide the highest level of care for these amazing crabs you should mindfully decorate the paludarium, enclousre, beyond only planting plants arbitrarily, or only on one surface, instead design the paludarium to utilize the hardscape, aqauscape, and the plants to serve the care needs of these amazing crabs.  

Another useful feature of enclosure design is the use of ample leaf litter. Leaf litter of the surface of the soil helps crabs feel secure as well as break line of sight between territory areas and also is loved by baby Geosesarma to be able to safely hide from adults when need be. Over time in the moist environments these crabs live in leaf litter will need to be resupplied as it begins to break down. 

Basic Enclosure:

Orin McMonigle (2018) in Breeding the Vampire and Other Crabs shows and describes the most basic type of land set up possible in a paludarium using blocks of sponge with or without a layer of substrate and moss covering it. While it may not be the most attractive it is an efficient method for having both a water feature and a land feature. The foam serves as both a raised land feature and the drainage feature, or layer, for the land. The water feature is worked into it where the crabs can easily enter and exit the water feature by climbing up or down the edge of the foam sponge. The water feature in Orin’s set ups is actively filtered with the basic waterfall type filter.   

Simply Planted Enclosure: 

A simply planted tank can be done in a storage tub with a static or active water feature and planted with ample Epipremnum aureum to give the crabs places to hide between and within. 

Full Planted Vivarium:

One of the most attractive setups one can create for terrestrial crabs is the fully planted vivarium which hosts a variety of plants and creates a sense of awe and wonder fully suitable for a display piece in your home. For these animals a vivarium is created with a water feature, either static or active, substrate, possibly hardscape, plants, and or mosses as well. 

Fully planted vivaria can be made to work quite well for terrestrial plants and the crabs but it can be difficult to learn how to build vivaria that serve the correct function and husbandry requirements of the crabs. The TGD hope to provide a guide for correctly setting up terrestrial crabs here on this page.  

References: 

1. McMonigle, O. (2018). Breeding the Vampire and Other Crabs (Brachyura and Anomura in Captivity) Husbandry, Reproduction, Biology and Diversity. Coachwhip Publications. 

2. Smotzer, C. (2022). Geosesarma Vivarium, Photos 1-2; 3-4. Permission granted soley to TGD. 

3. Gariss, H. (2022). Geosearma hagen Vivarium. Photo 3. Permission granted soley to TGD.