Bright Yellow Semi-Aquatic Crab

For the safety of our animals, we now ship live crabs exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout.

⚠️ Important Note: This species is semi-terrestrial, NOT fully aquatic. Its habitat must include at least 50–70% land area with access to fresh water. It is best suited for a paludarium-style enclosure. These crabs should not be mixed with other crab species due to territorial aggression.

Description

The Lemon Vampire Crab (Geosesarma sp. “Lemon”) is a stunning semi-terrestrial crab with vibrant yellow claws and striking body coloration. Native to forested regions of Southeast Asia, this small species thrives in humid paludarium-style setups where land and freshwater are both available. Communal within their own species, Lemon Vampire Crabs bring constant activity, color, and personality to naturalistic enclosures.

What We Love About This Crab:

• Brilliant Yellow Claws: Unique lemon coloration that pops in planted tanks.

• Semi-Aquatic Lifestyle: Perfect centerpiece for paludariums.

• Natural Scavenger: Helps clean leaf litter and leftover food.

• Fascinating Colony Behavior: Peaceful within groups of its own species.

• Escape Artist Fun: Active climbers — secure lids are essential!

• Nocturnal Explorers: Most active at night, when they scavenge and explore.

Natural Habitat

Lemon Vampire Crabs inhabit forest floors near streams, ponds, and riverbanks in Southeast Asia. They live among leaf litter, roots, and vegetation, spending most of their time on land but regularly venturing into freshwater for hydration and molting.

Tank Setup & Aquascaping

Lemon Vampire Crabs thrive in paludariums with a land-heavy balance (50–70% land). Use moist soil, sand, or coco fiber for substrate, and decorate with driftwood, rocks, and climbing branches to mimic their forest habitat. Provide shallow freshwater pools for drinking and molting.

Live plants such as Creeping Jenny, Java Moss (on wood or coconut huts), Java Fern, Adiantum Philippense with Vesicularia Dubyana (Java Moss) on Wood

 work beautifully alongside botanicals like Catappa, Jackfruit, Banana, Guava, and Mango leaves or our Aquatic Arts Botanical Combo Pack. Thick leaf litter and coconut huts provide cover, while springtails and isopods can be added to create a bioactive setup that breaks down waste and reduces mold.

Diet and Feeding

Lemon Vampire Crabs are omnivorous scavengers. In captivity, they thrive on a varied diet:

• Dry & Prepared Foods: High-quality sinking flakes and pellets.

• Freeze-Dried Foods (from Aquatic Arts): Daphnia and Mealworms.

• Fresh Produce: Cucumber skins, zucchini, and fruits like grapes.

• Protein: Insects, worms, and frozen or live foods.

• Calcium: Provide cuttlebone or mineral sources to aid exoskeleton growth.

Tank Mates and Compatibility

• With Own Species: Best kept in small colonies; males may spar, but aggression is limited if space and cover are provided.

• With Other Species: Not recommended. These crabs may prey on shrimp, snails, or small fish.

• Best Setup: Species-only paludarium colonies.

In Nature vs. In Your Tank

Breeding

Breeding can occur in captivity. Females carry eggs under their abdomen until they hatch into fully formed miniature crabs, rather than going through a larval stage.

Recommended Tank Parameters:

• Temperature: 75° - 82° F (24° - 28° C)

• pH: 7.5 - 8.0

• KH: 4 - 10 dKH

• Humidity: 75%+

• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons for 1 male + 2 females; larger colonies require more space

Care Guidelines:

• Diet: Omnivorous scavenger, accepts dry foods, freeze-dried invertebrates, and produce.

• Social Behavior: Peaceful with own species; aggressive toward other crabs.

• Origin: Southeast Asia (wild-type ancestry, selectively collected).

• Average Adult Size: ~2 inches (5 cm)

• Average Purchase Size: 1 – 2 inches (2.5 – 5 cm)

Paludarium Partners (Recommended Add-Ons)

• Aquatic Arts Botanical Combo Pack

• Creeping Jenny, Java Moss, and Coconut Huts

• Climbing Wood & Rockwork

• Bioactive Cleaners: Springtails and Isopods

B-Grade Option

We also offer a B-Grade variant for these crabs. B-Grade crabs may be missing one or more legs or claws at the time of purchase. This is not a health issue — crabs will fully regenerate lost appendages within 1–2 molts. All B-Grade crabs are otherwise healthy, active, and display excellent coloration.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All Aquatic Arts brand animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support from real aquarists to ensure your success.

The Aquatic Arts Difference

At Aquatic Arts, we don’t just ship animals — we help you build thriving ecosystems. Every crab is carefully handled, shipped overnight for health and safety, and backed by expert guidance so you can enjoy your hobby with confidence.