Halloween Moon Crab Care Sheet

Halloween Moon Crab Care Sheet

Gecarcinus quadratus
Category
Invertebrate
Average Size
2 - 4 inches long
Average Lifespan
5 - 10 years
Diet Type
Insectivore

Diet & Nutrition

Halloween Moon Crabs are scavengers. Prepared crab foods can be used along with other items such as raw coconut, seeds, peanut butter, small pieces of fruit, greens, freeze dried crickets, mealworms and shrimp. A source of calcium such as a cuttlebone is recommended.

Halloween Moon Crabs are scavengers and prefer having food available at all times.

Housing & Habitat

Halloween Moon Crabs are mainly found along the Pacific Coast in places such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. Halloween Moon Crabs do like to climb. Provide pieces of cork bark of varying sizes and heights to allow them to move around the enclosure. Halloween Moon Crabs primarily hunt and forage at night and are buried/hiding during the day.

Enclosure Size

Halloween Moon Crabs should be kept in no less than a 20-gallon enclosure for individuals. However, Halloween moon crabs are found in groups in the wild and do best when kept with others of the same species which would require a larger enclosure.

Substrate

Halloween Moon Crabs like a moist, deep, sand/soil substrate that will allow for them to burrow and properly molt. In the wild they can create a network of burrows 3 foot deep.

Temperature & Lighting

Temperature

Temperatures between 75-90°F are perfect for Halloween Moon

Crabs which can be achieved with a heat lamp or under tank heater.

Lighting

Since this is a nocturnal species, it requires only one light bulb. This is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. There is no current proof that the animal requires

UVB light, although some keepers prefer to provide UVB.

Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs.

Humidity & Watering

Humidity

The humidity of the enclosure should also be kept relatively high at 80% humidity.

Watering

Halloween Moon Crabs require both fresh and saltwater pools that are easy to get in and out of. Halloween Moon Crabs always need access to water to keep their gills moist.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do Halloween Moon Crabs eat?

Halloween Moon Crabs are scavengers. Prepared crab foods can be used along with other items such as raw coconut, seeds, peanut butter, small pieces of fruit, greens, freeze dried crickets, mealworms and shrimp. A source of calcium such as a cuttlebone is recommended. Halloween Moon Crabs are scavengers and prefer having food available at all times.

What size enclosure does a Halloween Moon Crab need?

Halloween Moon Crabs are mainly found along the Pacific Coast in places such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. Halloween Moon Crabs do like to climb. Provide pieces of cork bark of varying sizes and heights to allow them to move around the enclosure. Halloween Moon Crabs primarily hunt and forage at night and are buried/hiding during the day. Halloween Moon Crabs should be kept in no less than a 20-gallon enclosure for individuals. However, Halloween moon crabs are found in groups in the wild...

What temperature and lighting does a Halloween Moon Crab need?

Temperatures between 75-90°F are perfect for Halloween Moon Crabs which can be achieved with a heat lamp or under tank heater. Since this is a nocturnal species, it requires only one light bulb. This is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. There is no current proof that the animal requires UVB light, although some keepers prefer to provide UVB. Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs. Humidity: The humidity of the enclosure should also be kept relatively high at 80% humidity.