Mantis Shrimp

[Synirr]

I always said the only thing I'd ever set up a salt tank for was a mantis shrimp, and it finally happened.
I had been waiting to get one of the smaller pest species that come in on Florida live rock, but after finding it difficult to get ahold of one of these and having looked for months, a 5-6" peacock mantis came in at work. When I saw how cool he was and how easy he was to handle, I HAD to have him!
My boss was afraid to even manipulate anything in his tank without the use of tongs, lol! Meanwhile, I've been scooting him out of the way with my hand (carefully though, mind you.) He is not a very aggressive specimen and is already pretty used to me. He's in a 20g glass tank temporarily while I find another cheap tank to move the oscar and giant gourami to so he can have the 40g acrylic (which was temp housing for those two anyway, obviously.) Given his temperament, I'm not too worried about him breaking his tank at the moment.

Still looking for a smaller species too, if any of you happen to find one... got a 5g waiting for it I could go on and on about these guys, they are the epitome of evolution. To keep this post from being pages long, here's a Wiki article:
http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stomatopod

And here he is, my mantis!

My very first aiptasia, lawl.

Half of his home. This'll be it until I get the chance to get some good liverock, the stuff we get at work is kinda crappy. The other half is bare for the moment

Some pics taken with a friend's camera

 

[paul_219]

Very nice shrimp. HEHEH very cool.

 

[three-fingers]

I love mantis shrimp, we've got a small guy at work whose around 4" in a 5gal.

He's been there for months, nobody want to buy one lol.

He's very aggressive, and if you put your hand in the tank he will swim up and try to hit you.

I would take him, but I don't have the space for another tank .

Your guy looks great though, I love the idea of a tame/friendly mantis .

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

Wow he's awesome!
I wouldnt mind getting my hands on one of those!

He would actually be able to break his tank??

 

[Mako Man111]

Wow he's awesome!
I wouldnt mind getting my hands on one of those!

He would actually be able to break his tank??

Yes, very capable. I accidentally snagged one of these in cast net a few years back. I had no clue what it was, but everytime I put my finger near it it would snap at me. Thank God I didn't touch it.

 

[fishfishfish]

have u fed him yet?ive been watching videos on google of them vs crabs. pretty funny

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Very nice!

Saw a giant 1'+ down the blue reef aquarium in newquay looked like the same species as well

 

[Synirr]

have u fed him yet?ive been watching videos on google of them vs crabs. pretty funny

I fed him some live stuff at work, but not since I got him home. He ate frozen krill today. He is awesome at demolishing hermit crabs. He leaves snails alone unless he is REALLY hungry, so he got some turbo snail tankmates today that should last a while at least, along with some coral frags

Very nice!

Saw a giant 1'+ down the blue reef aquarium in newquay looked like the same species as well

Yep, he's a peacock mantis, and they do get to be around 1'

EDIT: Updated pics and a video!
I tried to feed him by hand, but he had already eaten two krill today and was full
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFYE985OwG8

New tankmates/snacks. He doesn't like snails much, apparently, and leaves them alone unless really hungry.

Body shot

Revamped home, I picked up some coral frags at work to see if they will live. I have basically zero interest in corals outside of mushrooms with neat texture and pulsing xenia, though.

Mantis butt!