Reacting to food

[NLindsey921]

Up until these last couple months, my crabs didn't really pay attention to when I changed their food out. Then I rearranged the tank into a completely different set up and now everytime I feed them, they all come running. Is this due to the new setup? Are they just getting more use to me? Or am I not switching out their food often enough. I switch it every three days because it gets infested with my isopods and it takes them about that long to finish off 95% of the food.

[LadyJinglyJones]

I dont tend to change food much more often than you do, so imo you're fine. Variety is what matters anyhow.

Maybe the odour of the food get caught on an in-tat draft now, and the smell is super potent? Or they're just used to you now. You could change the food more often to see if their behaviour alters, i.e. they aren't drawn to it so quickly.

I've always wanted feeding frenzy crabs... but mostly mine are very chill about feedings.

[wodesorel]

Has the humidity gone up? I always got insane reactions when feeding while running the humidifier. There are studies that show they "smell" food better the higher the humidity levels are.

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[NLindsey921]

I'm actually not sure. My gauge crapped out about a month ago and I've not had a chance to get a new one but that is first on my to do list for this pay check.

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[Richard]

It could also be visual. At least if your new setup provides line of sight to the food in a way the old setup did not

They should be able to detect food by use of "smell" over a distance of at least 5 meters. So it should make no difference that you rearranged your tank. (I don't assume you have a tank where they can be more than 5 meters away from the food at any given time). It could obviously also be a drift, increased humidity. Or a combination of one or more of all the given factors

If you have a crab sitting near your food bowl, and it starts eating as soon as you put the food down. And if the other crabs are able see that guy eating, they will be stimulated to go and eat also.

Note : The info about distance of smell, and visual stimuli was related to E's in my source not PP's.

[NLindsey921]

I wish I had a tank that big but no it's just a little 29 gal. As soon as I get a place with more space though I am hoping to upgrade to at least a 65 preferably bigger.

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