rearranging the tank?

crabber101 · Post by **crabber101** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 4:44 pm

I was just wondering if there were any guidelines for how often you should rearrange the crab tank. I feel like in the wild, the crabs' environments would have always been changing, and that it would be good to rearrange the tank as enrichment. At the same time I feel like it would be a major stressor for them to have big hands changing everything in the tank all the time. Opinions?

jgfceit · Post by **jgfceit** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 1:03 am

Yeah, that's a good idea! Rearranging the tank every week or so changes things up a bit and doesn't make it boring for the hermies!

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:14 am

I don't know if there are any specific recommendations. During that first month, I'd leave them alone. But after that point I completely rearrange every time I clean (once a month or so). I will move things during the week if they knock them over, etc.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:24 am

My crabs are more active when I rearrange but I only do it when I clean or they knock stuff down. I feel like a certain amount of continuity is good. I don't know if they are more active because they're excited about it or because they're stressed and trying to map out their new space.Maybe it would be best if you were going to change things up for enrichment if you left a few hideys in the same spot so they have a consistent place to hide and just changed everything else around?Also, this is a good question - do they constantly travel in the wild or do they find a good spot and stay there? If they stay in an certain location, although it would be larger than an aquarium, it would still have certain objects that would stay the same.