what is my spotted hermit protecting?

[hey.stack88]

I have a spotted hermit crab (Dardanus megistos), aka little dan. Yesterday, little Dan dug a hole down to the glass, placed something in there that has the same pattern and what looks like an antenna, and buried it. Since burying it, little Dan has been super protective over this mount and hasn't really moved except to scare a different crab into running away. Does anyone know what might be going on and if I should just let this play out or dig this thing up? We've had little Dan for about a month, seems healthy, not missing any limbs or antennas. Even our fish guy is confused.

[Rebecca C]

I don't know anything about marine hermit crabs, but if they molt like land hermit crabs; which I imagine they do, it could be Dan's exoskeleton. For whatever reason he could have buried it so that he could eat it later or something; that would be my only guess. If he and your other crab(s) are healthy, it is probably nothing to worry about.

[MuseCrazy]

I don't know anything about marine hermit crabs, but if they molt like land hermit crabs; which I imagine they do, it could be Dan's exoskeleton. For whatever reason he could have buried it so that he could eat it later or something; that would be my only guess. If he and your other crab(s) are healthy, it is probably nothing to worry about.

I was going to say exactly this lol. Since what he buried looked like a crab, it's probably his exo that he's saving for later.

[Lord Frieza]

Ok... I might need to ask some questions about your tank. How big is it? And do you know the levels of calcium, magnesium, strontium, and trace elements? I myself have made MHCs, including a dardanus megistos, and none of them ever did that. My megistos never eats his molt after he molts, but that could be that I have reef-level amounts of above said elements, so he can just absorb calcium etc from the water. How big is your megistos? Mine is about size of a child's fist.