Batik crab

Common Name: Batik Crab / Marble Crab
Scientific Name: Metasesarma obesum

Adult Size: Carapace 1.5–2.5cm; leg span 4–5cm
Native Range: Indo-Pacific coastal regions

Enclosure: Terrestrial-focused paludarium/crab tank with tight lid, deep leaf litter and multiple hides
Heating: ambient 22-24 °C

Humidity: 60%+ with good airflow; keep substrate damp with drier pockets

Diet: Omnivore with a protein bias, quality crab/invert foods plus insect/frozen proteins in rotation, with some veg/leaf litter

Water: Shallow freshwater dish for drinking/dipping; some keepers also offer a small brackish bowl

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

Metasesarma obesum is the crab sold as the “Batik” or “Marble” crab, named for its cream base colour and ink-like patterning across the carapace.

It’s a land-leaning sesarmid that naturally turns up around coastal, sandy or rocky zones with plenty of debris to hide under, and it tends to behave the same way in captivity hugging cover, squeezing into tight retreats, and emerging most confidently later in the day.

Individuals can vary a lot in pattern and tone, from pale mottling to darker, heavier markings.

A cluttered layout with leaf litter, bark, stones and shaded pathways usually makes them far more visible than an open display.