Is this a Mantis Shrimp?

[BlueAbyss]

Mantis shrimp can break glass panels and throw rocks. The bottom of the tank is probably safe... any of the side panels may not be.

FYI, Mantis shrimp aren't really shrimp at all, so you don't have to worry about him feeling like a cannibal. Not that he would mind

[dareefguy]

I plumbed in a little acrylic 5 gallon into my system for my mantis shrimps new home. Catching him was more difficult for me. I ended up getting the rock he lived in out of my tank and actually had to drill a hole in the back of it with a chisle to get him out.

[o.c.d.]

For some of the larger smasher mantis, estimated that the impact blow equals that of a bullet from a 22-caliber gun- comparable to a compressed air jack hammer! No wonder that there are reports about mantis having smashed thick aquarium windows. "The Modern Reef Aquarium Fossa, Nilsen"

[justinl]

Originally Posted by BlueAbyss

Mantis shrimp can break glass panels and throw rocks. The bottom of the tank is probably safe... any of the side panels may not be.

you got it backwards. almost all of tank breaks by mantids are because the mantis is digging a hole and wants to smash through the mysterious clear obstruction. Tank breaks in general are rare, and side panel breaks are rare within those. Another "common" (still rare) thing is having a mantis chip the edge of glass panels; usually not structurally damaging.

they can throw rocks but nothing larger than themselves and not very hard. certainly not hard enough to do any damage to anything.

Only a handful can actually break glass. Mostly only the large species like large Odontodactylids like O. scyllarus (peacock). G. chiragra is a smaller species but also has the hardest hit for its body size of all Stomatopods (although not the actual hardest i think) and can break through 1/4" glass.

edit: I would change bait every day so the stuff doesn't rot and foul water quality. maybe every couple for shrimp, but definitely daily for something like a clam (decomposes faster)

[BlueAbyss]

Originally Posted by justinl

you got it backwards. almost all of tank breaks by mantids are because the mantis is digging a hole and wants to smash through the mysterious clear obstruction. Tank breaks in general are rare, and side panel breaks are rare within those. Another "common" (still rare) thing is having a mantis chip the edge of glass panels; usually not structurally damaging.

they can throw rocks but nothing larger than themselves and not very hard. certainly not hard enough to do any damage to anything.

Only a handful can actually break glass. Mostly only the large species like large Odontodactylids like O. scyllarus (peacock). G. chiragra is a smaller species but also has the hardest hit for its body size of all Stomatopods (although not the actual hardest i think) and can break through 1/4" glass.

Excellent info, I'm now less scared of stomatopods

I still wouldn't put one in a 10 gallon tank though.

[newreefer_59]

Appears far too smart for my bottle trap......tho it did catch my cleaner shrimp, lol.

Any other strategies I could use?

[o.c.d.]

Have you located where it sleeps if so you can (I know this sucks) pull the rock and put it in your other tank. Or if you want to keep the rock in the display, pull rock and get your spear, war paint,red bull ect. and go mantis hunting. O ya if you do need to fashion a spear metal coat hangers work great. I also have a acrylic trap with a drop door your welcome to try it but you have to be there to drop the door so unless you want to wait it out. Maybe that's where the red bull comes in.

[sitandwatch]

I had to remove the rock that mine lived, then broke apart its hole to get it out.

Darn things are smart