very colorful shrimp....unidentified species

[akbarius]

okay....I've been trying to get pictures of these little buggers for 2 days (since I first saw them), without luck...anyway, I know they are some sort of shrimp species....there are 3 of them, each are about 1 inch long, one is a translucent red, one is black, and one is mint green....they are burrowers (hence the problem with pictures), and they actually look more like miniature lobsters than shrimp.

I know this is vague, but does anyone know what they are or whether they're good, bad, or meaningless?

I'll keep trying with the pics also...they're slippery.

-paul-

[Pineapple House]

Sounds like a Mantis Shrimp....

Graham

[phistio]

i agree...the vague description sounds like a mantis...

stomatopods are quite interesting...i would link a picture from (IMO) the most informational site about them, but (respectfully) they ask that pictures not be linked from their site...

http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/

[Salt Creep]

and they actually look more like miniature lobsters than shrimp.

-paul-

If they have large claws like lobsters and they burrow, they are probably PISTOL shrimp. They're unlikely to cause any harm, though large (as in over two inches long) ones might prey on small fish. These don't sound like the type that live commensally with watchman gobies but they sound like they're really fun to watch.

[akbarius]

ahha! I took a look at the pics on that link for mantis shrimp....they're definately mantis....creepy little buggers.

three varieties of them, judging by their coloration. Are these harmless? I have no fish, as of yet, so that's not a worry for a few weeks, but I have tons of inverts, etc. should I feed them?

-paul-

[on_fire_8]

Unless you want to start a tank that is dedicated only to them you need to get rid of them. www.transfishsupplies.com sells a nice mantis trap for 18 dollars after shipping.

[Pineapple House]

Wow, I can't believe you have three of the little buggers!

This can be a real pest, esspecielly in Fish Only tanks. It is said, that the strike of a mantis shrimp, is the same as a 22 caliber bullet! It is also said that they can crack a 1 1/2 inch thick glass, with 2 smashes from its poweful front claws. There as two kinds on Mantis shrimp out there. One, is known as a smasher(or thumb splitter), as it has 2 front arms with a "hammar" like thing, to smash its prey. They other one, is known as a "spearer." These have a "spear" sorta thing, ensted of a hammar. They will spear they prey, wait till it dies, and eat it. Mantis shrimp usually will eat fish when they are more mature. You will usually hear little "cracks" and "clicks" in the tank, if you have one of these. They like to come out at night, and hide during the day. These are very hard to get rid of. The best way to get rid of them, it to first track where it goes, and find its "house." Next, try blasting it with boiling HOT water. It will seem to swim around the tank. Now, pick it up with a net(Dont do it with your hands! I have seens some people not move their hands away fast enough, and it can break a finger!) Once it is out, the rest is up to you. The best thing to do, is give it back to your Local Fish Store, and they might give you some money for it.


There's many ways to try to get them out of your tank, killing them won't solve anything, after all...you're the one who took them out of their natural invironment. Some do quite well in the sump with a good size DSB, I find them very facinating little critters :) (Just not in the main tank).

I'm sure someone who has experience with catching a mantis will chime in here :)

PH =)

[reefrunner]

Edited for content...by reefrunner :)

[on_fire_8]

I dont think you should kill it. Thats why I recommended a trap. Then you can put it in a sump or a tank of its own, If you dont want it , try your lfs. I know people like to keep them cause they are unique critters, just not good to keep with other animals.

[Pineapple House]

Chryocon,

I am extremely upset and disturbed at your posts, they were extremely un called for, and in many people's experiences, they are not evil. Your methods of torture for the shrimp will have to go else where, otherwise they are useless here. Know I am the one that deleted the two.

Graham

[akbarius]

okay, here's a picture of the biggest one...I pulled all of the rocks out and caught one of them last night.....couldn't find the other two....which might be bad news....have to buy a trap (probably should do this anyway; they might have larvae somewhere....don't wanna end up with 30 of them in a month)

it's a beautiful little creature....very colorful....but i'm a big crab fan, so he's gotta go...I'll take it to my dealer tonight.

I hope he lives....I really don't wanna kill it...it's way too cool....wish I had a sump or something that I could put him in....

-paul-

[on_fire_8]

I would be extremely careful when trying to catch these. They can do some serious damage to your hands.

P.S. www.transfishsupplies.com has a mantis trap for 18 dollars after shipping, I have not found anyone who can beat that price.

[Pineapple House]

Looks like a Peacock Mantis Shrimp to be, although I can't really tell.. I've been trying to find one at the LFS for a while, they're extremely interesting critters. If you really liked all 3, you could easily buy a 20 gallon Acrylic tank, some livesand/aragonite substrate, a few rocks, powerheads, and a heater to house them in, I think it would be quite a beautiful setup. You can probably use some of your tank water, as well as some extra live rock (to avoide cycling, up to you). This is what I would personally do.

Here's a good picture of a Peacock Mantis (Odontodactylus scyallarus)
http://www.divegallery.com/Mantis_Shrimp.jpg

Graham =)

[on_fire_8]

Will three mantis shrimp live together in peace?

[akbarius]

finally cought the last of the three....one of them died, but I've given the others to my local dealer. he's gonna trade me for a couple clean-up crew critters.

it's too bad I wasn't able to keep them....I don't have room for a refugium to house them....hope they go to good homes, though.

thanks for all the help!

-paul-