🦀 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VAMPIRE CRABS

[@IndoorEcosystem]

More Detailed Guides here: www.indoorecosystem.net/

[@SomeGuy-qd3li]

Having a vertical set-up with some sort of wall they can climb works super well too, they absolutely love climbing

[@IndoorEcosystem]

This is so true. I learnt this over time. They climb anything and everything. I have some lillys in a tank at the moment and the will climb the tall stems just to sit on a leaf.

[@MGclipsforu]

Perfect cause that’s what I’m getting

[@MGclipsforu]

Thank you

[@IndoorEcosystem]

If you're looking for information on 🟨lepidothelphusa sp crabs🟨you can check out my guide on those below. I'll have a video up on them soon! medium.com/@ArbitraryLens/everything-you-need-to-know-about-lepidothelphusa-sp-sarawak-land-crabs-6a63cf1e1d42

[@fishiehideyhole]

Vampire crabs are so cool looking! I haven't heard of them before. Thanks for making this video!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

No problem! There are tons and tons of different types as well. Their colours really vary too! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

[@PsychoPlantLady]

Your video has been one of the best I’ve seen on vampire crabs. Thank you.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@PsychoPlantLady Thank you 😊 much appreciated!

[@sophiebainbridge3136]

Thanks indoor ecosystem! Great vid!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You're very welcome 🙂 I hope it helped.

[@mrbe1497]

Thank you for taking the time to create this informative easy to listen and great to watch care guide. Like n sub

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You'revery welcome! Thanks for the Like, comment and Sub as well! I really, really appreicate it! If you have any questions just let me know 🙂

[@sayurikitamura7109]

Wow what a rare and good video. I just discovered the chanel and am very excited. Well done 👏

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Thank you for the kind words :) I really appreciate it!

[@PetsNPonds]

Well done, very complete and informative,.....love these little guys

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Wow! Thanks for stopping by! Your tank build videos were some of the inspirations for my very first crab tank way back when I first started with them. Super simple and easy and they work super well.

[@CarlOutside]

@@IndoorEcosystem LOL I look back on those and cringe a little, ..I will have to do some more vids on my newer tanks. You have some great builds and I am enjoying your content , well done

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@CarlOutside thanks for saying that! I'm kinda random with styles so videos are hopefully not too much of the same i think we all have the same thoughts looking back on our older stuff! I'm the same as well and I've only just really started. It's all part of the journey! Nice fishing and outdoors channel BTW. Some good fishing there! I have an outdoors channel too but I don't get out enough to make much content. Plus the fishing here is absolute garbage. Its basically fished out sadly...

[@eternalkenway]

Great guide for Vampire Crabs! There isn't a lot of content in this species, this will certainly help me a lot, thanks🙂 One question, do you think the otocinclus catfish would do well with this kind of crab?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You're very welcome :) I think otos will be fine. But i haven't tried them in a tank with crabs before. Nearly all fish and even shrimp are too quick for the crabs from everything that I have seen. Snails on the other hand are just food. You would need a lot of water space for otos and they need a group of at least 6 for their best quality of life, though 3 seems to work fine as well from what I have seen. You just don't want to get any less than 2 though as they are quite social. Otos are a tricky fish to keep alive as they need really good water quality and tons of algae to eat plus a lot of wood and plants.

[@Jvscapes]

Thank you! Just about to start a crab build. How much filtration do you find you need? I'm building a housing for a pump and will be using filter foam and maybe some bio balls and a heater to keep it a little warmer in there. Springtails are a must - I have some zebras isos but they have been attacking my orchids - any breed you recommend?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You're very welcome! I have a ton of random crab videos 😂if you want to get accustomed to their weird natures! As for filtration if you have a bioactive tank with lots of plants with roots that go into the soil and water you won't need any water filtration. You can use floating plants for this as well. However, I like to add a little pump just to keep the water moving. If you have a newly established tank a filter is important though. Your setup sounds pretty good so far, you seem to have done a fair bit of research on the build you want. I just have the most basic isopods that I picked up from my compost bin but you can use any that you have. Just keep in mind that the crabs love to eat them so they will get wiped out pretty quickly in a smaller tank! They also eat springtails as well but springtails multiply 100x faster!

[@LGhost]

Thank you for this vid it helps me as beginner to decide for setup

[@IndoorEcosystem]

No problem 😊 I have a ton more videos expanding on everything in this one as well if you get stuck with anything. And a few build videos which might help out with your planning process.

[@LGhost]

@@IndoorEcosystem I will take a look on them ... but one Q on you how do you clean this whole system? this is only one unknow Q for me

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@LGhostYou don't need to do any cleaning. You build the ecosystem for them to live in and it becomes self sustaining. All you need to do is feed them every so often and do water changes. The ecosystem takes care of everything else :D You'll see as you explore the tank building side of things a little more.

[@LGhost]

@@IndoorEcosystem Thank you for the info if had more Q will message you

[@spiderplant]

Perfect! I definitely got some great ideas for a tank setup now

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Awesome! I have a bucket load of tank setup guides as well you might find handy. Though you've probably already seen a few.

[@spiderplant]

@@IndoorEcosystem please do give me ideas!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@spiderplant All the ideas! kzbin.info/aero/PLgp_FqomH7ofm7007hhJU7dobsmYNSlPC&si=xNhcsSmySCAydP8a

[@sarajane7532]

Happy to be your thousandth like! Great video!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Woohoo!! Thanks a ton! I'm glad you found it helpful :) have you picked out a crab species you like yet?

[@sarajane7532]

@IndoorEcosystem absolutely! I just ordered some rainbow vamps, and will be getting a proper rainbow crab for my 55. While I wait on that long process I'm going to let the vamps in there! I'm so excited, thank you very much! ❤️🥰

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@sarajane7532 They are a super cool species! Sounds like your tank is going to be huge!

[@LeftTownMedia]

I recently got footage of a vampire crab on a public pavement. Turns out it was just a pair of purple rubber gloves

[@IndoorEcosystem]

🤣😂

[@jukesngambits]

you deserve more subscribers! would you consider uploading continuous crab footage?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Thanks! Really appreciate it! I've got a lot of planned crab content in the pipeline. I sold two of my smaller adult tanks to get one huge new one. I've been waiting 2 months for it to get made and arrive. The guy was super back logged... But it finally came yesterday so I can get started on it early next week! Any particular topics you'd like me to cover in particular or just some footage of crabs being crabs?

[@timboard7901]

I have 4 crabs that I just got and have them in a 30 gallon. But all mine did was burrow into the substrate and hide. No clue where they are really. Temp and humidity are fine, but not sure what to do if anything.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You probably won't see them for a month or so. They will only roam around at night early on. You could get another 4 easily in a tank that size it might make them a bit more social. I have found that the next generation you end up with (once they have babies) will be way more active. My second generation of them are out and about all the time compared to my original few. They breed super easy it will just happen so don't worry at all. Plus with a tank that big they wił survive for sure.

[@ladyn1617]

This vid was super helpful thank you!!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You're most welcome 😊 I have plenty more guides and tank builds that go into further detail as well.

[@Mucco.]

Loved the video. Actually i've got a question, can i put only one crab in the tank or I necessarily have to put more than one?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Thanks :) You can generally add 3 crabs per 5 gallons (25l) of space. Try to keep it at at least 1 male to 2 females as well. If you have more males than females fighting will become a problem. The biggest thing is to not mix species (colours) they are pretty big on fighting and will almost always kill each other.

[@Rascythe]

Nice video and cool setups! What kind of snails do you have in there with them? Do you feed them too?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Thanks :) the snails are ramshorn snails. Breed like crazy so I drop all the excess ones in and the crabs est them slowly over time. Other than that I feed them random stuff from the list in the video a few times a week. Once i see the food is all gone i put some more in. They are good because you don't have to worry about them over eating. And they will find food in the tank easily enough if you have a good ecosystem going.

[@joycrow-kent6702]

Excellent information, thank you.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Cheers! I hope it makes things a little easier for you :) Enjoy these little critters they are super interesting once they settle in!

[@mateoandkaralinevillarreal139]

What do you use to test your PH levels, nitrates, and everything else? I'm building my first paludarium and nervous. I know certain plants help out with everything too. Also this video was so informative!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I'm just using a standard aquarium test kit. Don't use the strips, they are cheaper but give vague results a lot of the time. Just grab the cheapest kit you can find. API makes really good kits if you want to get the most commonly used ones though. Don't stress too much about the building part, it sounds like you've done a fair bit of research so far. How big is the tank you're building yours in? I have a build video up on my last (big) one. I have another video coming soon of a smaller 6 gallon build as well. Hopefully, I will have that up in a few days. Just waiting for the light and filter to come for it. They are totally different build types so a good comparison.

[@mateoandkaralinevillarreal139]

@@IndoorEcosystem ok I'll do just that. Thank you so much. It's a 10 gallon tank. I'm hoping everything will work out. I used mechanical filter foam to make a wall to separate the water and sand side from the land substrate side. I used hyrdo balls, probably not enough but a mesh net above the hyrdo balls. Then mixed Reptisoil and Coconut Fiber together over the mesh. I have rocks and lots of drift wood pieces for them to climb on and some hiding spots. I'm hoping once I get plants it'll create way more hiding spots and separation areas. I'll be getting 1 male and 2 females. I'm thinking maybe some snails. Maybe Isopods and Springtails idk. A little shrimp species would be nice as cleaners but idk if I'll have enough space for them to be happy. I look forward to the new video though, I'll subscribe right now! Because the video was just to amazing not too.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@mateoandkaralinevillarreal139 It sounds like you're pretty much on the right track with everything! Your base sounds pretty much spot on so you shouldn't have too many issues. Shrimp and snails are a great idea though crabs will eat the snails sometimes so get expendable ones! I'm just using ramshorns they breed as fast as the are eaten. As for shrimp I haven't tried them yet but I will be adding some in the next few weeks. I'm just waiting for the water section to really mature and stabilize I hear they are too fast for the crabs to catch as well but we'll see I guess. Thanks very much for the sub as well! Really appreciate it!

[@dannygironmeda5222]

this is an amazing video, thanks for all the information!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Cheers for the comment :) really appreciate it! If you end up with any more questions just ask in the comments and I should have some answers!

[@Shahrozirl]

My setup will include springtails and circulating water using a water pump. is this enough to take care of crab waste? I do not want a water filter because they can be too big and loud at times and want my setup as natural as possible, even the water filter is something I might remove. Should I add plants to the water section such as aquatic moss, duckweed etc?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

If you have enough plants you can do without any pump or filter. I have a lot of build videos where I don't use any if you want to check them out. I also prefer super low Tech.

[@RosOntop]

Thanks for the information

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You're most welcome :) happy crabbing!

[@dennisdonovan2735]

I love that music playing in the background please do tell what is playing 🎶

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Honestly, I have no idea it's been so long 😅 It was just some generic free to use one from Pixabay.

[@InTheMIDL]

Nice video! I am wanting to keep some vampire crabs, and I was just wondering if water testing kits are necessary, since they are quite expensive in my country.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Thanks 😊 test kits are important but you probably can get away with just getting a PH test. And a nitrate test. You'll need to spend some time understanding the nitrogen cycle as well. But there's plenty of good videos about that here on KZbin.

[@InTheMIDL]

​@@IndoorEcosystem Thanks! I already have a few established (fish) tanks, so I can probably kick-start cycling by using plants/water from their.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@InTheMIDL If you've got some tanks going you pretty much know what you are doing. Just jump start things with the plants and little bit of filter media and you're set!

[@ckent1075]

Hi indoor ecosystem. Do I have to feed them live bugs? Can them just have frozen meat(fish, chicken etc.) instead? Thank you very much!

[@juanjorodriguez3626]

What kind of lighting do you recommend for a terrarium with vampire crabs? Do you use blue light? Thank you !!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Normal aquarium lights work great. I just get the cheapest ones going they grow plants well and the crabs seem to be happy under them. I run mine for about 7 hours a day. Then I have a secondary light which is an ARGB led strip which I have set with different light tones and colours that runs for 1.5 hours before the main light comes on in the morning and after it goes off at night. This isn't required but I like the look of it and its a great way to see the crabs at night when they are more likely to be roaming around. I have a video of the setup in the Vampire Crab playlist on my channel for more info.

[@toko715]

Nice video! Very informative Would you happen to make a video about fiddler crabs🦀!!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I'd love to make a video about fiddlers! Unfortunately, at the moment there aren't any available around my area and I don't like purchasing crabs online. They ship really badly and have a super high mortality rate :( This is certainly a species I've had my eye on for ages!

[@ahmax_media]

It was really helpful Thanks man...

[@IndoorEcosystem]

No problem 😊 I've got a bucket load more guides and builds if you're looking for more info 😊 thanks for stopping by!

[@bluevindow3]

This is a very well made and informative video, well done. I have a question about the babies though. If I'm not in a position to keep them, would it be okay to simply allow the adults to eat them? Or is there another way this should be handled?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Thank you very much 😊 I let nature take its course as well quite often. One or two will survive the rest get eaten by the adults.

[@ayh4968]

Sorry if I missed it, what temperature do you keep them at? And what about water changes?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

No problem 0:47 as all the info you need. As for water changes that is entirely dependent on your setup. If you don't have an aquarium water test kit I'd change it at least once per week. If you have a setup that allows for plant roots and stuff to go down into the water you can do it way less though. I do mine once a month but I have a lot of aquatic and floating plants to help take out nutrients etc.

[@ayh4968]

@@IndoorEcosystem Thanks so much for the reply!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@ayh4968 No problem! Shout out if you get stuck with anything 🙂

[@eternalkenway]

How do you control the land & water temperature and how do you deal with water filtration do you just apply a small filter that doesnt harm them?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I just have a tiny little aquarium filter in my water section. Basically just to circulate the water a bit. Then I have some aquatic plants and floating plants to help with water quality as well. As for heating you can use a small nano heater in the water or a heat pad. Otherwise you can just keep your room temp at a steady level. I have noticed the colder it gets the less active they are.

[@karrar_ak6228]

According to your experience, is it possible for a crab to become pet with humans, meaning that I can hold it in my hand and feed it?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

The captive bred ones I have a lot more relaxed around my hands and don't run away a lot of the time and sometimes i can scoop them up easily. The problem is that they can really quickly change their mind and dart off or run away and they are very very fast. Which means if they fall on the floor or drop from any sort of height they will die. Not instantly but within a couple of days. The are fragile like this. So it's best not to really bother handling them. You can hand-feed them safely in the tank. I have quite a few videos doing that but I would just leave them be unless you really need to handle them.

[@Guppy_Girl]

Great info! subbed

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Thank you! I really appreciate it!

[@nannigiovannetti8519]

Keep the tank well stocked of springtails. They will be the best food for the baby crabs, keep the tank clean

[@krisvermeersch9293]

Awesome informative vid. Thanks a lot! Can you share some info about setting up a 'crabitat' like yours? Especially about keeping the water clean from the soul in the land area. Thanks! 🤟

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Sure! I've found the best way to keep the soil out of the water is to use garden weed matting. It's nice and dense and keeps the soil out while letting water pass through. Alternatively, you can use window screening and layer it a couple of times. This also works well. I've used both methods in the past. I'm in the process of a big new build for my crabs at the moment that will have an entirely different design from the tanks in this video. At the end of the day though you will get some nutrients in the water from the soil so it's a good idea to make sure you have as many aquatic plants as you can to absorb them. I find Salvinia works really well for this plus crabs love to eat them.

[@krisvermeersch9293]

@@IndoorEcosystem Thanks for the quick and very usefull feedback! I wish you lots of fun and succes with the new build. Keep us posted :)!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@krisvermeersch9293 No problem! Enjoy yours as well. First builds are always fun and full of lessons :)

[@phatsakorndoungchan5947]

If i have a small river of waterfall in my tanks, is that will be too much moisture? Also,do we need to make a fake rain sometimes or not, like spraying some water?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

No that would all work fine. I don't spray mine at all because having a lid on a tank keeps the humidty really high and everything damp. You can control the moisture and humidity by the amount of coverage the lid has. A small river or waterfall is also really cool if you have the space to add one. I wouldnt bother in a small tank though as you want to prioritise land as that's what they primarily use.

[@rhysme423]

Just a question: are vampire crabs allowed in Queensland Australia? That’s where I live and I love terrariums and things like that, I’d love to keep vampire crabs but I’m having difficulty finding information on whether they are allowed or not

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I'm pretty sure they are banned in Australia and don't have an plans to allow import. I'm just guessing the second part but seeing how they breed like crazy and come from south East Asia they could become invasive pretty easily. Especially in FNQ which is basically a clone of their natural environment. There are a couple of fresh water/land crab species in aus that I've seen though. I believe 2 come from Darwin. But I can't recall their names. They would be cool alternatives to keep! When I'm back in Australia at sometage I'm going to try track some down. There were a couple of big online stores selling them

[@rhysme423]

@@IndoorEcosystem ok, thanks for the information 😃

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@rhysme423 No problem! 🙂

[@thediplomat1124]

How do you keep your tanks from smelling? Of course there will be a natrual smell, but I'm talking more about keeping it from smelling like something is decaying all the time. It also could be that my tank was not balanced 😬

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Springtails are the sercret weapon for this. When I open my tanks they all smell like the forest. But it takes a least a month or 2 to get to that level. First make sure you water doesn't touch the soil layer. Leave a nice gap between them so there's drainage. Next make sure you have lots of plants. Then make sure you stock it with plenty of springtails and let them go wild! You can add some isopods around the same time as well. Wait a month or 2 before adding other animals. I have a lot of tank build videos up on the channel as well if you want to see the exact process that I follow.

[@thediplomat1124]

Love this advice, really appreciate it! I look forward to getting this setup in the near feature. Not sure if I missed it in your video, but do you have tips and tricks on how to effectively create a gap? You can see it in your videos, but I'm not sure how you achieved that exactly. Another quick follow-up question, do vampire crabs eat the plants? It's always sad to see your plants be destroyed by fauna lol@@IndoorEcosystem

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@thediplomat1124 No problem! The gap is nice and easy, you just build your clay ball layer 1 inch higher than you plan to fill the water, then everything else above it will be able to drain through. An inch is a good stable amount. Vampire crabs do eat some plants but not a lot. I don't have a list at the moment but i remember pilea is one species they seem to munch on quite often. Ferns are a good safe bet if you are just setting up your fist tank.

[@curvingfyre6810]

Not sure if you're still responding to questions on this video, but I was wondering if I could get some feedback on a tank i've made and whether it's suitable. Ideally i'd like to send photos, so you can see the specific structures i made. It's a 50 gallon, with i'd say 75% of the bottom surface area deducated to water, with a 6 inch depth and a ton of ways to climb out, but the entirety of the background filled with bark and lava rock climbing areas, slate shelves with more substrate zones, floating dwarf lily leaves, smaller islands made of cholla wood, and a canopy of branches. I think it adds up to maybe 50-50, but with how much water there is in total, I worry since this would be my first time with crabs, and I don't want to get it wrong. If crabs won't work, i have other options, so don't pull your punches. Let me know if there's a platform you prefer for me to send some photos.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Jump into my discord server well all chime in 😊 there's a lot of good people in there now

[@curvingfyre6810]

@@IndoorEcosystem I clicked the discord link from your website, but it looks like it's expired

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@curvingfyre6810 Thanks for point that out! I've updated it: discord.gg/MDYpaeZA

[@curvingfyre6810]

@@IndoorEcosystem No problem, thanks for the link

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@curvingfyre6810 Any time :)

[@krystenpeltonovich5771]

I want to start a paludarium with Vampire crabs, but I'm not sure I want to deal with babies, should I just get all females, or will they not get along that way?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Half the time the females you get will be pregnant anyway. I wouldn't worry about babies. The parents canibalise them most of the time anyway. But seeing as the crabs only live 2-2.5 years if you have one or two bies survive youll have replacements.

[@therattlesnakejchannel2108]

Interested to see how the mixed babies look

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Was a total non event. They all came out purple. It must be the dominant gene

[@321353096]

Are vampire crabs anything like the Red Clawed Crab? I have a Red Clawed Crab with like 20% land and 80 water. Can a canopied crab survive in it ? Also will it fight with my Red Clawed Crab?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Nope they are very different and will not co exist with other crabs. They will fight and kill them. They don't even like crabs from their own sub species. They also need land as their primary living area they only use the water for molting and the occasional dip.

[@akvaristugur9479]

nice share, i came to support

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Thanks mate! Really appreciate it! I'll return the favour.

[@akvaristugur9479]

@@IndoorEcosystem 👍🖐️👌

[@gbj6581]

Hi. Are the red devils more active than the purple ones in your experience? Basically which genus specifically in the red/orange versions would you recommend that is more active.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

They are all the same activity wise. They are all primarily nocturnal. The biggest factor on visibility and them being captive bred. Wild caught (most in the hobby) are insanely shy and hide all the time. Captive bred are a lot less paranoid and won't hide as soon as they see or hear something.

[@gbj6581]

@@IndoorEcosystem I see. Okay that makes sense. Thanks thats very helpful. Will try lookout for captive bred when I buy some.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@gbj6581 it's super hard to find but they breed fairly easily so you will have your own easily enough. Just takes a bit of time and a really dense healthy tank.

[@gbj6581]

@@IndoorEcosystem okay i see. Yup cant wait. I just build a tank for them. Need to just find some in my area : )

[@patrykrychwicki4417]

My palladarium with vampire crabs got a lot of springtails, do you think is good or bad? I think that they're killing my plants and I'm not happy about it...

[@IndoorEcosystem]

The more springtails the better! They self regulate population so if there is a lot there is plenty of work to do. The plus side is that the crabs love to eat them as well so they'll never go hungry if you forget to feed them or go away on holidays. They also don't eat living material so won't be eating your plants. I'd be guessing the crabs are eating your plants. Mine have fairly demolished a few of my plants. They seem to have some favourites.

[@Jaiden_Mehta]

How often should you feed them?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

This really depends on your tank and how many crabs. If your tank is bioactive with springtails and moss etc you can feed a lot less. If it isn't I'd feed a few times a week. I usually just flick a few sprinkles of assorted fish food through the tank every second day and once a week some veg etc. Just keep an eye nothing goes moldy. If you see moldy food cut back.

[@Jaiden_Mehta]

@@IndoorEcosystem thanks

[@ondrakucera5837]

I have exo Terra 45cm deep 45cm high and 60cm long. How many of them I can have in? Also what light will be suitable for it? I’m at beginning to start building the tank for them

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Just start with 3 crabs. Any aquarium light will work fine just make sure it is full coverage so the plants get good light

[@ondrakucera5837]

@@IndoorEcosystem thank you for your reply 🍀

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@ondrakucera5837 no problem 😊

[@loststar8595]

Hi what type of bonsai soil do you use? i'm looking online but there are so many choose from

[@IndoorEcosystem]

A soil based on rather than gravel. But you can use any old organic soil mix. As long as it's not loaded with fertiliser it's all good.

[@Andy-x7v]

Do i need to filter the water for the crabs. If I do need to filter it, what filter is recommended for a small portion of tank?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

If you're new to keeping crabs and fish a filter is a good idea but not required if you plant heavily, have floating plants and do your normal weekly water changes. 😊 Filter options are endless so you just need to find one that fits your layout. But I do have some options linked below.

[@gumlemanden]

Hi, regarding maintenance and feeding, how long can the tank and the crabs survive without being "taken care of"? Say, if you wanted to go on vacation for a week, would they be able to survive that if you gave them enough food spread out in the tank? And what about the humidity and other abiotic factors, can they still be maintained or do they need to be attended to more often? Thanks for the videos!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

It really depends how well you set it up and how old it is before you go away. Generally you can easily go 2 - 3 weeks if it's fully bio active and has been set up for a while. But if it's new and still settling in it's best to have someone feed them. Older tanks are always more stable 🙂

[@gumlemanden]

@@IndoorEcosystem Awesome, that is actually really cool that the tank can be fully self-sustaining! How long does that take, a couple of months or a year? And does it require any other coinhabitants in the tank than springtails?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@gumlemanden I'd say about 3-4 months is usually enough. Springtails, Isopods, earthworms, snails and shrimp are the best additions. They all self regulate populations and don't over compete the space. Obviously the bigger the tank the better the success as well. It's the standard case of population vs environment size. 🙂

[@gumlemanden]

@@IndoorEcosystem Sounds good! Are there any indicators to look out for to know when these conditions are reached?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@gumlemanden You'll get to understand your little ecosystem as it evolves but usually the best sign is when you see all sorts of little micro fauna getting around the tank. springtails everywhere, isopods dotted around etc. A good thing to help the system is to add a fair bit of leaf litter to the bottom of the tank. This helps a lot. As it breaks down just top it up.

[@aquaticproducts4274]

How much do they usually cost?and can they have tannins in their water?

[@aquaticproducts4274]

Can they also have high water flow in their tank to mimic a river?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@aquaticproducts4274 tannins don't seem to be an issue i have a medium amount in mine at the moment. But that's just because of some new wood. I usually keep it lower for easy visibility. But the water flow would be a problem. A mild flow is fine but once you start getting a bit too high they may struggle to get around. Cost is all over the place depending on where you live here in Poland i paid 10USD per crab. Which seems to be the going price all over the country. If you can, avoid buying online as they don't ship very well and die in transit or shortly after arrival. That said some places will offer replacementsif that happens.

[@aquaticproducts4274]

@@IndoorEcosystem ok thanks!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@aquaticproducts4274 No problem. Good questions by the way. 2 things I actually forgot to mention!

[@aquaticproducts4274]

@@IndoorEcosystem I’m getting closer to setting up the tank(been planning it out and getting supplies) but can bonsai trees be in the tank with them or no?im wondering if they are dangerous to them or not

[@kelvinlising7078]

My crabs do not go to the water at all and mostly just spend their time hiding. Is this normal?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Pretty much, they don't use the water all that much just to molt and hydrate every now and then. They are nocturnal so don't come out during the day all that often unless they are really comfortable. It's a slow process.

[@buzk4]

Ph 7,5 -8 is ph water or soil? How to keep this pH lvl? Any tips what to use for soil mix or water fertilizer?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

PH is for the water. The soil doesn't really matter. But you'd want to avoid anything super acidic just in case. Any soil that doesn't have fertiliser in it works fine. And I never fertilise the tank land or water. The ecosystem you create takes take of it all. As for PH stability if your tap water is hard around 8 you won't have to do anything. Just water changes regularly like with fish. if it's low you will have to add some minerals. Just follow some guides on the process it'll be easier than me explaining it here 😊

[@julieharris9661]

I’m new to this and don’t really want to breed my crabs yet…would they get aggressive with each other if I put 3 females together in a tank with no males?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

All females would work well. The only problem is that they can and do come pregnant sometimes but it's still worth a shot. Also when they have babies 95% of them get eaten by the adults if you don't separate them so it's also not really an issue in smaller tanks. Just don't do 3 males they will destroy each other.

[@alfredcolaco8984]

What fish can live with them

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@alfredcolaco8984 here's my guide on vampire crabs and fish: www.indoorecosystem.net/guides/keeping-fish-with-vampire-crabs?rq=Fish

[@MichaelArmstrong-m6h]

What water dechlorinator is best for vampire crabs?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Any that you would normally use for fish will work fine. They all seem to be pretty reliable from what I have experienced over the years.

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

awesome vid

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Cheers :) I'm pretty sure I didn't miss anything!

[@enricopuno8276]

Do you have videos about different kinds of Betta fish and their ecology?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Not at this stage, I haven't got access to enough varieties where I live to put together a video from my personal experience keeping them. I like to make sure I know the species really well first. I can suggest a few good channels though if you'd like.

[@enricopuno8276]

I I like to know few great youtube channels

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@enricopuno8276 Check out @Franksbettas & @Fishtory They are 2 good channels with somem interesting betta content.

[@Foodmeow]

Thank you!!!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You're welcome 😊 if you ever have any extra questions I'm happy to help

[@Iron-Claw-Tiger]

Good video and nice tanks

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Thanks :) I've got a nice big one on order to set up soon so will be a pretty detailed build video coming with that.

[@jacquelinemccarthy2046]

Are you Australian? Would love to get some but haven’t seen them round.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Yep I'm an Aussie but living in Europe at the moment. Sadly vampire crabs are a banned species in Australia under biosecurity. They'd become invasive really easily so it makes sense. There are a couple of native species coming out of the Northern Territory though. Not sure there exact names though.

[@jacquelinemccarthy2046]

@@IndoorEcosystem yes we miss out on the oddballs here, but agree biosecurity is for a reason. 🥲

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@jacquelinemccarthy2046 The rate the breed is inanely really. I started with 2 I have somewhere between 100-120 in a bit over a year. They are super good at escaping as well so that would make things even worse!

[@RoyalHachiko]

is it possible to combine them with fish (like beta or guppy)?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I would avoid both of those species are they are easily caught by the crabs. Betta fish (long fins are easily caught) and guppies are just really slow and stupid. Fast-moving fish like white clouds and ember tetras are ok but the fish will eat your baby crabs when they are born so that's something to consider as well. Having fish also means you will need at least 5-10 gallons of water to meet their needs as well. I find it easier to just stick to crabs snails and shrimp that way everyone is happy. If you want to learn about crabs and shrimp I have a guide for that as well.

[@aquaticproducts4274]

I would like to know if Purple Heart(the plant,not the tree) is a safe option of Tradescantia

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Shouldn't be a problem, a lot of people use "wandering jew plants" as they are commonly called. Purple Heart is a sub species. They can be overwhelming though as they grow fast and could cover everything

[@aquaticproducts4274]

@@IndoorEcosystem but I thought Purple Heart was poisonous?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@aquaticproducts4274 from what I've seen these crabs don't eat anything they don't like or can't eat. They have good instincts. I wouldn't use it in a tank for the simple reason it will be a nightmare to contain. It will overgrow everything super fast.

[@aquaticproducts4274]

@@IndoorEcosystem ok

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@aquaticproducts4274 I'm doing a video on simple cheap plants soon so keep an eye out for it.

[@mair2083]

Can they eat young red runners ?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Never tried them but they will pretty much try to eat anything around that size. Isopods crickets worms etc. As long as they can catch them or corner them they will eat them. The can move quite fast when they want to. I've been trying to get footage of them pouncing on things. A little bit like spiders can.

[@piecrusts_]

Could you just have one male and one female in a tank? Or do you have to have the second female?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

The male usually just hounds the female to death when there's just two. You need a good amount of space to make it work. If he doesn't hound her. She'll be hiding 99% of the time.

[@piecrusts_]

Okay, thank you so much!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@piecrusts_ no problem 😊

[@CryptoKus]

Can we keep this in Australia?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Sadly not. I believe they are a biosecurity risk. They would become invasive pretty quickly. There are a couple of native species of freshwater crab from the NT that are similar though (I forget their names) I saw them being sold on some online fish stores in Australia a few months back.

[@MGclipsforu]

What does all the PH and the KH and the GH mean

[@IndoorEcosystem]

They are all components of the water quality. It's best to jump on google to search them there's more info than I could type up here. Plus you'll get a lot better and more comprehensive information 😊

[@ProducedbyPDot]

@@IndoorEcosystemGH General Hardness? PH would be its acidity , idk what kh is

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@ProducedbyPDot Jump over to Google there's some really good guides that explain each one really easily 🙂

[@Reptilekid151]

What do you use for filtration ?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Depends on your tank. If you're new and have a new tank a small filter is good enough. Even a small sponge will do. However if you know what your doing you can go filter less with the right aquatic plants etc.

[@donnaarmstrong7351]

If I am going away for a couple of days do I feed extra before, or after, or both?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Just a little extra is fine. They can live of the ecosystem in your tank for a fairly long time. I wouldn't even both doing anything crazy if it's less than a week. I usually just add a little bit of boiled cabbage leaf or potato or something the day before I leave.

[@donnaarmstrong7351]

Awesome ❤️ty I have one solo vampire crab and the base is water with lots of rocks and sticks to climb up and equal 80% land. I have a peace lily in a pot on my balcony. I now want to add some of it to my habitat - do I submerge it? Or above water? Am I understanding correctly to put the sand in the water? For some reason I have it dry. Never has he gone into as far as I know. I really appreciate you ❤️

[@donnaarmstrong7351]

Is the potato boiled or raw?

[@donnaarmstrong7351]

I see him a lot. I think it means he's happy❤

[@donnaarmstrong7351]

Or is baked ok?

[@jimoldenkotte7579]

i have a paludarium of 150x80x60 with a paired up red eyed crocodile skink, also have mourning geckos in there and a lot of guppys. now the tank would also be perfect for the crabs as it is now. but i have one question tho, will the crabs try to eat my croc skinks eggs? the eggs are pretty big like the same as their body but i heard they are quite the savages when it comes to food. oh and also a new born skink is like 6 cm ish, will they grab?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

They will eat the eggs but I would not mix these species at all. The skinks will kill the crabs more than likely.

[@jimoldenkotte7579]

@@IndoorEcosystem alr ty for the info

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@jimoldenkotte7579 no problem 😊

[@haleyneal3810]

How do you maintain the temperature?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Depends on the tank design you decide on. Either an aquatic heater like in an aquarium or a heat mat.

[@azaria7528]

I wanted my water deep, more than two inches because I wanted to keep shrimp and possibly like one small fish, if I made it so the crabs could get out even if it's deep is that ok?

[@azaria7528]

I was thinking of doing a little stream so that the crabs could be in the water without going into the deep end

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Yeah but I wouldn't go above 8-10 inches. They can get in and out with no problems as long as you have lots of access points and a bit of a slope. They will climb vertically without much trouble though but I try not to make life too difficult for them. You could always step it in as well so that it has some shallow areas. They have 0 ability to swim and sink like rocks it's funny to see them try though.

[@azaria7528]

@@IndoorEcosystem now I want to see them sink like rocks now that you mention it 🤣🤣

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@azaria7528 When they climb up somewhere and drop into the water you'll see it 😂

[@michaelbyrnes803]

Can the rgb light strip be any other color, or just blue?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You can make it whatever you like. But I've found they come out best when it's set to blue. I've tired green and red with less success. But I guess it depends on the individual crabs as well.

[@ashersamphibiansandreptiles]

Do they need uvb

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Nope just normal aquarium lights are fine

[@Munz_is_at_your_house]

Does normal ABG mix is fine?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I've never used it but I think it would be fine.

[@evanblankenship5887]

where do you buy vampire crabs

[@IndoorEcosystem]

It depends entierly on your country. I got mine locally from a shop here in Poland. There are online places as well in some countries (fish stores usually). Just be aware that they don't ship really well so that's something to be aware of.

[@TrueMelonLord]

where did you get the crabs

[@IndoorEcosystem]

My local fish store. There are online stores but these crabs don't ship all that well so if you can get them locally.

[@hogegi7955]

I have some (mixed causw i didnt know) and one of the red ones fell or went down inthewater (if fallen its only about 7-10cm ) , the ph is alright but im not sure about the other values in the Water tough, she died in the water, thats why im asking if its bad for this to happen, they are new and didnt seem really stressed out, they have much cover and parts to climb, even good and moist hiding places, and a water part with about 2L of water, they also eat (i give them different things like oat, carrots, fishfoodflakes and every 2 days per crab a small worm, which they seem to eat) so they arent starving, could anybody help me (i had 3 before, but 2 died for some reason, the other seems fine (or was the one that now died, im not sure because they look almost identical) and 2 others from of the 3 now 1 died in the water) could anybody help me with this or giveme tips

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Mixed crabs are very prone to fighting. Especially males so having different species around give them all elevated stress levels sometimes so this can be a factor. They may also be harassing each other non stop as well. So this could be a factor in the deaths. Outside of that how long did you have them before they died? Did your order online and ship them? Shipping is a big cause of death sadly. Even if they survive the sometimes seem to die a day or week later from trauma. That little fall probably don't cause any issues but you never really know. It might have been a bad landing... As for the water section I have found they aren't too fussy as long as it is clean a higher PH and is quite hard and not too cold. What are your tanks temps and humidity like?

[@Gorixreal]

How many times do they eat in a week?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

They eat all day every day. They graze on the micro fauna and plants in the tank, similar to cows. Depending on how many you have you'll need to feed some extra stuff 3 or so times a week usually. A mixed diet is super important.

[@Gorixreal]

@@IndoorEcosystem Thank you

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@GorixrealNo problem 🙂

[@michaelhijab3488]

How are you able to get crabs in Australia?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I'm Australian, but I'm not in Australia 😁(Europe) Vampire Crabs are a banned species in Australia though under biosecurity laws.

[@michaelhijab3488]

@@IndoorEcosystem thanks for the info. I noticed your Aussie accent and I thought the laws got changed. Keep up the good work!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@michaelhijab3488 Happens all the time 🙂I get a lot of people from Australia messaging me wanting to buy them. I don't think the laws will ever change to be honest but people will sneak them in and a market will probably start. I really hope that doesn't happen though because they could really, really easily become an invasive species in Australia. They breed super easily and they are insanely good at escaping 🤯

[@ufnalfan5992]

Hey, im researching geosesarma CB crossbreeding, do you have any experience with hybrids?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I have had some accidentally mix and breed a few years back and it was just brown crabs and crabs of either colour I didn't see any actual hybridisation to make it worthwhile. 99% of the time they will just kill eachother instead. I had other people say the same thing. They really don't mix well.

[@lappinitwiththelamberts]

Can you get these crabs in Australia?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Nope, they are a banned species under biosecurity laws. They'd become invasive super fast if they got out. And eventually they would.

[@lappinitwiththelamberts]

Thanks for the reply. Is there anything like that in aus that you can keep?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@lappinitwiththelamberts there are some native species out of the Northern Territory but I can't remember their names. There was 2 different ones I believe

[@Dunkin_Pony]

Can you prevent breeding or have just females or do you need to have a male in there with the females?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

You could have all females but not all males. The problem is sometimes females come pregnant. Over population isn't really an issue though as they eat their babies pretty heavily.

[@Dunkin_Pony]

@@IndoorEcosystem ok thank you!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@Dunkin_Pony no problem 😊

[@emelixhh]

I would like to ask, can i keep only one crab, alone in a terarium??

[@IndoorEcosystem]

One solo Crab is fine but not in a terrarium. They need the water component to survive. Without access to good quality water they dry out and die. But a solo Crab would be fine in a paludarium. But you probably wouldn't see it much. Other crabs help them come out.

[@emelixhh]

@@IndoorEcosystem ok, thank you very much for your reply!😊

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@emelixhh No problem 🙂

[@kidneytheft8285]

Pretty much a noob to crabs but if you want a stable population would you just get females or would you just keep the babies in the tank to be eaten?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

All females usually won't work because they might be pregnant when you get them. But if you leave them be they will usually cannibalise themselves to keep things stable.

[@kidneytheft8285]

@@IndoorEcosystem Is allowing them to cannibalize themselves considered bad practice?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@kidneytheft8285 It's natural just like when fish eat their own fry. But ultimately though it's entirely up to you. I separate my babies to keep them alive but it's not always possible. canibalism is normal to them.

[@billkapri5692]

Such awesome pets just sucks their lifecycle is so short! 2-2.5 years 😢

[@IndoorEcosystem]

At least they breed easily and replace themselves over time. But it's still sad to see them pass so early.

[@Prof.Albusdumbledore]

How big do they get?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

These ones are max size so between 2.5 - 3cm across the body. But with their legs extended all the way out double that. But they never really extend out like that unless they are reaching for something to climb.

[@Witzz]

At 9:00 what Filter is that?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

It's a tiny little SunSun HJ111B They are brilliant little filters and super cheap!

[@fabianhigas3423]

Where can I order some !!

[@fabianhigas3423]

??

[@IndoorEcosystem]

How long is a piece of string? It depends entirely on where you live! You want to get them locally if possible the closer the better. Ordering online is risky. They ship really badly. Die often. Also they are banned in some countries. Australia for example.

[@dom4817]

Where do you buy your vampire crabs?

[@IndoorEcosystem]

My local fish store (Central Europe) has them. It's the only place I have seen them in my city though. There are plenty of online sellers but the crabs ship really bad sadly. They have a close to 50% death rate. They usually a day or 2 after you get them if they aren't DOA.

[@blackosprey2219]

@@IndoorEcosystem Can confirm, this is exactly what happened to me. The best and hardiest crabs are the ones born and raised in your own tanks

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@blackosprey2219 Yep 100%! Just make sure the babies can't escape! They are crazy sneaky escape artists. I've had to tape my lid down because they squeeze out the tiny gap where they pump power cord comes out!

[@nickg8454]

3:30 "☺️finally my moment of fame"... "Crap"

[@IndoorEcosystem]

They are hilarious sometimes! I've never seen one actually fall yet though not properly they always manage to catch themselves!

[@deonmcclain1958]

Are you interested in selling some of your baby vampire crabs

[@IndoorEcosystem]

No sorry. I'm probably not in your country and don't post them as they have a high mortality rate when shipped. I only sell them locally. I highly suggest trying to find some local ones if you can. Don't use international sellers either if you are offered.

[@gilbertkhor5978]

I’m not sure if fish pellets are all suitable. Been feeding it to the crabs and noted the crabs started to die off slowly. Had a look at the ingredient list and saw that there is colouring and coopersulfate added to it. The food is from a well know brand. The fishes don’t last long with that food too.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I've never had any issues with any brands but I always mix their diets with a few different brands of food and types. Plus they get 60-70% of their dietary needs from the bio active nature of the tank. This is why waiting longer for your tank to get established is best. A nice big springtail colony is really good for this. You do bring up a good point though.

[@ZeroCarbo]

baby grow slow?? ....... 3 months ago i took out 12 babies into a bigger tank, 1 month ago they were almost adults, now they are biiig, i find they grow faster the my coridoras

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Could be competitiveness maybe. I had about 40 or so in a smallish tank growing out so perhaps that caused the slow down. I fed them quite heavily though. But it's taken a solid 8 months for them to reach full size.

[@PARK-nu7ok]

You don't escape? 😮

[@IndoorEcosystem]

They always escape! You need to keep them locked up real good!

[@PARK-nu7ok]

@@IndoorEcosystem Thank you I got it!!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@PARK-nu7ok No problem ☺

[@MiaJ-t3s]

Why boiled food? In nature it’s not boiled.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

These foods aren't naturally occurring in their native environments. And as crabs prefer some foods that are already slowly decaying boiling them fast forwards the process. You are basically skipping the waiting period for some foods to become interesting for them. You also need a well established tank with a biome of microfuna for them to feed off for the best results.

[@bobdole8830]

It always amazes me, how the English speaking community proposes WAY worse living conditions for basicially all animals throughout the bench. The minimum recomendation for a group of 5 in Germany is 54l, so 60x30cm per tank, and no one worth their salt will recommend any less. that could explain why they only live 2 years with you, when in fact they can easily get 4, sometimes 5 with the proper care.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

The english community? I think you mean the some of the South East Asian regions, predominately the places where most Vampire Crab species come from.... If you spend some time in the "Vampire Crab" space you will be familiar with how they collect them from the wild and mix species in buckets then try to sell them online in Facebook Groups, Reddit, TikTok, etc. Knowing full well they will all die in transit to wherever they are supposed to go in the world. They also do not take any customs and biosecurity laws and regulations into account when trying to sell and ship to people... While none of this is new information for any species, it's a bit rich to call out "The English Speaking community".... As with everything though, every nationality has the scumbags and idiots..... To follow that up I'd like to know if you have been keeping Vampire Crabs long? I'd also like to see some sources where they have been proven to live for up to 5 years? I've yet to see anything written online anywhere or have anyone else besides yourself claim anything longer than 2.5 years..... From all the data that seems to be the common consensus online. 5 gallon tanks are perfectly fine if you have them set up correctly. With the correct male to female ratio. Though that doesn't take future generations into account. Though 60x30cm would be better obviously..... But that goes for everything... Bigger is almost always better with the exception for some insects and spiders. Some of the German recommendations I've seen posted around the place for things as trivial as shrimp are excessive as well.... Please explain your idea of proper care as well? I don't believe I have missed anything regarding care and requirements?! Though I will happily add and adjust the content if I have missed something here. All that said, I'd like to offer a counter argument: What's to say that the GERMAN consensus is the correct one? Based on being overly conservative estimates? Us Germans are well known for being conservative. Swing me a message on Instagram sometime and we can talk Vampire Crabs. Mit besten Grüßen...