The halloween crab

• Latin name: Gecarcinus quadratus
• Other name : Moon crab, harlequin crab
• Origin : Costa Rica
• Order: Decapoda
• Family : Gecarcinidae
• Gender : Gecarcinus
• Longevity: 8 to 10 years old
• Maximum size: Body, 6 cm in diameter
• Way of life : Night
• Feed : Omnivorous
• Essential supplement: Cuttlebone

Habitat

• Minimum vivarium: 10 to 20 gal.
• Ambient temperature : 23
• Hot spot temperature: 26
• Night temperature: 20
• Hygrometry : 60-70%
• Substrate: Sand or fine gravel
• Need in UV: Not necessary but preferable 2.0

This brightly colored little crab will charm you. This very colorful explorer with a round shape, will like to hide without venturing too much during the day. When night falls, it becomes less shy and goes in search of food. If you have a timer to regulate its day/night cycle by the light you provide it, it will appreciate it. The moon crab, another common name, likes to hide and burrow in the sand. It can burrow up to 1.5 m. in nature.

The Gecarcinus Quadratus do not live in water, but they need a water point to stay moist, otherwise it is death.

Male or female ?

As a general rule, the male would be more colorful and would have rather red hues, while the female would be more in orange hues.

His habitat

You will need to divide its habitat into two parts. The first will only consist of sand at least 5 cm thick so that your crab can dig as it pleases. Arrange this part with pieces of wood, pebbles and plants so that it can hide either by digging under a stone or by hiding behind the plant with generous foliage. You can also put a wet corner there with sphagnum moss.

The second part will be aquatic, filled with filtered water and conditioned with products eliminating chlorine and chloramines then heavy metals. With a minimum depth of 3 cm, this water point can be contained in a bowl. It is not necessary to heat it.

A cuttlebone will also be necessary for the calcium intake of your crab.

A small bowl to put your food in.

A low amperage heat lamp to maintain a temperature of 23-24 Celsius and hot spot no more than 26 may be beneficial, but is optional.

A UV-emitting lamp may be beneficial, but is optional.

If you have decorations in height, consider putting a lid or a fence on your vivarium, because it likes to climb!

food

Omnivore, he likes to eat almost everything. Small pieces of salad, small pieces of fruit and vegetables, commercial crab food, Tubifex cubes, crickets, live or canned mealworms… Vary his diet and sprinkle calcium twice a week on his food.

Products to have when hosting Halloween crabs

• Cuttlebone
• Calcium powder
• kitchen crab
• Tubifex
• Mealworms
• water conditioner
• Sphagnum moss