Emerald Crab eating from his belly

My emerald crab has a hinge type lid on his underside that was open and he was digging stuff out and eating it. anyone seen this before? Why is he doing this?

thanks

 

...what?? eating itself?

 

it looks like he is eating stuff from his belly.

 

he might just have algae growing on the underside of his stomach and he might be piking it off

 

I know what you're talking about just don't know what it is. I've seen an arrow crab do it multiple times. There was a flap under it's mouth and it pulling some clear looking stuff out.

 

he has sorta a lid over his belly that is open and he is eating stuff that is inside is belly

 

I did read that arrow crabs do that getting ready to molt, so im curious if that is what my emerald is doing.

 

Weird

 

Pretty sure that was belly button lint. Tell him not to do that. :

 

LOL I will tell him