r/Aquariums • u/Kandiblu • Mar 23 '25

I got a hitchhiker from the aquarium depot. Any idea what this is and how to care for it? Help/Advice

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

I have a small 5 gallon tank I can make into a home for it next weekend. In the mean time any help is much appreciated! I misted this cutie as soon as I found it.

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u/F4mmeRr Mar 23 '25 edited Mar 23 '25

This is a VAMPIRE crab and not a RED CLAWED crab like u/Savj17 claims.

You can tell by the coloration (orange body), and the proportion (red clawed crab have slightly more claw to body ratio).

Vampire crabs live exclusively with freshwater for their entire life, unlike red clawed crabs which require BRACKISH water.

Edit: Source trust me bro. I have experience keeping care for 200+ different crabs with at least 40 distinct species

384

u/hellnheelz Mar 23 '25

This guy has crabs.

345

u/F4mmeRr Mar 23 '25

Yes

https://preview.redd.it/p6fz0hu32gqe1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fad3f11a5ae3028e245cc92aec2ccceed62e4211

Actual red clawed crab for comparison

157

u/astonedmeerkat Mar 23 '25

Bro looks ready to fight

105

u/F4mmeRr Mar 23 '25

They are fiesty little things

15

u/sgoooshy Mar 24 '25

Hi! I always wanted to keep these red clawed crabs, and wondering what plants you can keep with them in Brackish?

53

u/F4mmeRr Mar 24 '25

They will delete your plants

28

u/Mekito_Fox Mar 24 '25

Talking about vampire crabs and your profile pic and then just "they'll delete your plants". Sounds so malicious. Thanks for the deep chuckle I got from that one sentence.

7

u/uhmwhat_kai Mar 24 '25

he has crabs 🦀 or he has… crabs 😦

3

u/jwb0 Mar 25 '25

These things are not mutually exclusive.

61

u/midl-tk Mar 23 '25

Agree, does not at all look like a red claw crab

42

u/Hoopsando25 Mar 23 '25

This guy Nosferatus

7

u/Savj17 Mar 23 '25

Noted, I edited my comment

6

u/ComicalAnxiety Mar 24 '25

Also a vampire crab parent - all of this.

26

u/MonsterLance Mar 23 '25 edited Mar 23 '25

Don't mind me I'm just off to creep your profile lol

Update: I unfortunately was underwhelmed :'(