I'm not sure where all this contention is coming from. We're all pretty much on the same side in that we all know what a bleeding stupid move this video shows. Do I wish he would get struck for his folly? No, although i admit it crossed my mind. But is that the point? nope, not to me.

Just to put things into perspective, here is a pic of the typical damage a large smasher can do when it spears a finger. The species that did this is not designed for spearing and only gets to about half the size of L. maculata (the species in the youtube clip) so you can only imagine the kind of damage a foot long spearer might do. warning: kinda graphic...
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showp...t=1&thecat=500

The only way to play with mantis like that is only after they molt and skeleton is soft.
Mantis will not strike for a few days after molting.
may be that's the case ?

whoa, no. bad, no. never touch anything that's just molted; that is a surefire way to kill any crustacean. Molting is a wicked stressful event and the best thing you can do is just leave it alone for a couple days. Actually Dr Roy Caldwell of Berkeley (the finger in my previous post belongs to this guy) had a mantis strike at him right after a molt and the action actually made the arm of the creature sort of... explode. Such immense energy goes into the strike that if the carapace isn't hard, it will essentially break the mantis' musculature.

Hey, did anyone watch the shark video? Just as it started I chickened out and closed
it. I can not stand the sight of blood I tend to faint. LOL No one has mentioned it.

If you go through people's comments on this video, it is promoting people's desire to own one now... so they can play around with it and bother it...

Mine had enough sand and rock to hide under, but when I needed to do anything in my fuge, I had to watch it. They are territorial and don't like people being in their business. This is why I could not keep him, since it was stressful to both of us to do what I had to do in his home.

I downloaded the shark bite link posted, but I could not bear to watch since I don't get off on people being hurt. However, some replies to the video clip of the mantis made my feelings of the guy having a strike from the mantis justified.

How many people bought one and tormented it? Everybody on this forum cares about the well being of our aquatic life, a mantis is not different.

Just avoid the last 4 seconds no blood till then.

That is what I figured!

I really doubt you would want anyone wishing bad things on you or your tank, for the irresponsible decisions you've made (that a lot of us have made). Then to turn around and say he deserves to get nailed, and possibly risk the loss of a finger or worse, because of a irresponsible choice on his part, you need to give your head a shake.

I'm not saying that what he did was smart, I don't think anyone in this thread is, but by no means does he deserve to nailed by it.

What does one have to do with the other? I do not boast about the things I have done, and show off to others. I do not promote anything I have done to anyone else, or give advise or suggestions on things I have no right to say anything about. Actually you would never know a thing about the mistakes I have made, unless I admitted to them and posted about it, right?

What this video does is promotes the exploitation of a creature that does not like to be touched to others that now want one, because they are cool and you can wow your friends with your bravery.

Have you ever seen me post to anyone encouraging anything I have done?

Give me a break.

I never mentioned anything about you "showing off" or "boasting", nor is that the point of my rebuttal. My point is, I think its disgusting that you would wish ill fortune on someone for a mistake they made.

People let him know its a bad idea, but I don't see anyone wishing the loss of a finger, which is possible. Granted I have better things to do than read through 100+ youtube comments, and I'm sure there is a few "cool man!" comments, but the people who know better have posted, and should be a warning for anyone else. (quoted below)

Maybe posting this video has given the kid an eye opener from the people commenting, who know its a mistake to try that, and will think twice before he does it again.

Even the last quote, "cool vid, but I wouldn't grab one".