Mantis Shrimp, The Best Pet Crustacean?

Video Sponsored by Ridge. Check them out here: ridge.com/clint
Let's face it, the mantis shrimp might be the most incredible of all crustaceans; they are as formidable as they are beautiful. However, being hardcore and glorious doesn't necessarily mean that it makes a good pet. So is the mantis shrimp a good pet? Is the mantis shrimp the best pet arthropod for you?
#clintsreptiles #mantisshrimp #saltwater
Big thanks to Loveland Living Planet Aquarium! livingplanetaquarium.org/
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"Green mantis - Flickr - places lost" by lost places under CC BY 2.0 commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
"Peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)" by jeff~ under CC BY 2.0 commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
"The Peacock Mantis Shrimp" by The Secret Life of Predators | National Geographic education.nationalgeographic....
"Retina" by All About Vision www.allaboutvision.com/eye-ca...
"Amazing Pistol Shrimp Stun "Gun" | World's Deadliest" by Nat Geo WILD • Amazing Pistol Shrimp ...
"Mantis Shrimp Punch at 40,000 fps! - Cavitation Physics" by Physics Girl • Mantis Shrimp Punch at...
"World's Fastest Punch | Slow Motion Mantis Shrimp | Earth Unplugged" by BBC Earth Unplugged • World's Fastest Punch ...
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Clint is a professional biologist and educator, but above all, Clint LOVES reptiles and he loves to share that love with everyone he meets. Whether you're lover or a hater of reptiles, you can't help but get excited with Clint!
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Clint's Reptiles
770 East Main Street # 127
Lehi, UT 84043
If you would like to send a LIVE animal - FIRST: please send us an email to make sure we can take it in. [e-mail]

[@ClintsReptiles]

Big thanks to Ridge for setting us up with these rings and supporting the channel! Here’s the site if you want to check them out! > ridge.com/clint

[@uUuWolf16uUu]

My dear clint, you forgot one more hardcore shrimp than the mantis... The shrimp that literally throws kamehameha attacks made of explosions (pistol shrimp). Literally the range class of the mantis shrimp.

[@springwaterenjoyer12]

Can you do pacman frogs? One of the best pet frogs

[@HammboneBob]

You need to get a collaboration video with Viperkeeper. He's got a lot to teach.

[@papawheelie1645]

They've actually served these in the sushi restaurant below my apartment building in the past. Not sure if they still do or not.

[@samwamm85]

from my experience mantis shrimp can absolutely break out of smaller aquariums. in larger aquariums they can in fact break the glass, but not enough to shatter the glass wall. you will still need to replace the glasss though.

[@pipsjourney6600]

Personal experience working in a pet store, Mantis Shrimp shattered the 3/8ths inch non tempered glass of a 75g aquarium

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you for sharing that data point!

[@hadla]

How big was it and was the glass already weak?

[@pipsjourney6600]

@@hadla 8 or 9 inches and no, glass was not weak, an employee (not me) was teasing it with food outside the glass and it punched the glass trying to hit the food.

[@ishill85]

@@pipsjourney6600 well they got their prize...at least we may learn from their wisdom.

[@XBullitt16X]

Its why you have to keep them in plastic Aquariums.

[@CallMeJephph]

as a certified mamtis shramp owner I will say that the species you typically find in the trade are generally easy to keep, the peacock mantis in particular. The most important thing is to keep their ph around 8.4, and their GH and KH high! Their molts are very dangerous to them if those water parameters are too low. Another thing is the smashing stomatopods arent always the killing machines theyre depicted as. It depends on their personality, but mine in particular doesnt bother any of the fish I have or my large urchin. P.S. mine is named Big Onion and he takes clams out of my hand and is a polite gentleman

[@Mothobius]

I too like Mamtis Shramp. Such unique animalz

[@horngatekeeper]

I am now picturing a Mantis shrimp in a top hat, so thank you

[@hadla]

They also need complete darkness and no interruptions to molt successfully. And yes! Not all of them are angry hermits!

[@AngryMothNoises]

Please tell Big Onion I love him

[@notsam498]

to have eyes like that they probably have pretty decent thinky dinkies for their size. Which would lend creditability to the notion they have distinct personalities and can likely reason.

[@Fairyfink]

Clint used to be the only person on this planet who has given serious consideration to whether it is better to be eaten by a praying mantis or a mantis shrimp. Now I have considered the options too and wish I hadn't.

[@KatieDeGo]

So what was your conclusion? I need to know!!!

[@mustachadon]

Hyenas would be way worse. They will eat you from the rear up. Id way rather go from the top down haha

[@theperfectbotsteve4916]

probably the shrimp idk I just like saying shrimp and don't like the prospect of slowly being eaten alive

[@saurongor]

This should be The best pet alien

[@davidwesley2525]

Don't get a Gray Alien 👽 they're Too creepy. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@danm8004]

You're a fish.

[@ClintsReptiles]

Cuttlefish would be on the running.

[@BDWANNEMACHER]

Bobbitt Worms would be on the list

[@DetoxA1313]

xenomorph

[@whalercumming9911]

"Big enough to hurt you, but not big enough to hunt you"- that makes anything cool and might be the most bada$$ thing ever said about a shrimp ever

[@lazyking7773]

I have a peacock mantis shrimp almost 1yr now. I was going to name him shrimptama the one punch shrimp, but changed his name to Buddha the peaceful shrimp because he's not aggressive at all to where I can handfeed him and have a fish in the same tank with him

[@aydenbianchi9093]

how's it going 8 months later?

[@lazyking7773]

@@aydenbianchi9093 He actually just past last month. He had a bad molt which was always a possibility that I knew that could happen, but he was an amazing pet to have

[@jamespike5161]

Two Jurassic Park references less than two minutes into the video and it’s not even a reptile? 10/10 Clint, you earned this like today. ❤

[@mmseng2]

TBH I fully expected this to be one of those "no of course they aren't the best pet, appreciate them but never keep them" videos. Very interesting to learn that they are in fact keepable.

[@Caidezes]

To be fair, you can keep even the most dangerous animals as long as you're willing to risk your health. A mantis shrimp can easily hurt you.

[@riffcrypt8438]

The concept of there being a shrimp that can punch so hard there is potential for it to crack a glass enclosure is exactly why I can watch this channel endlessly and still be learning new things. Awesome.

[@1TakoyakiStore]

I think this is the first pet on Clint's Reptiles that will be your pet whether you want one or not because they will sometimes hide in coral harvested for aquariums and you won't know it until your fish start disappearing... 👀 They're my favorite animal so this video was quite a treat. 😁

[@hefoxed]

He's done an isopods one, which can come in on plants 🤔 And he's done cats. Cats just appear in people's homes sometimes.

[@hadla]

Some of my favorite animals too since I had gotten my first peacock in 2013!

[@pipsjourney6600]

The one that broke the glass in the petstore came in a shipment of live rock and when we first found it, it was about 4 inches and had been in the store for at least 2 months before we knew it was there.

[@MermaidMakes]

@@pipsjourney6600 My boyfriend in college worked at an aquarium store and I had the pleasure of meeting the one they had there....and he had the pleasure of having his hand smashed. A peacock punchshake if you will. That guy broke like...3 aquariums before they had to special order an acrylic tank.😂

[@strider5119]

@@MermaidMakes it didn't break any aquariums

[@SergeiMosin]

They're like tiny, angry, aquatic aliens that can and will massacre and devour anything that moves near them. If that's not the most metal thing you've ever heard, you've lived a life I can't even imagine.

[@peggedyourdad9560]

I honestly think their faces look kind of cute, I have no idea why lol.

[@Aineb1039]

@@peggedyourdad9560 I think they are cute too

[@user-ph2sz2oy1k]

The best pet crustacean is obviously Leon the Lobster

[@vando6679]

Hey this review totally reminded me of Leon.

[@HeyChanelle]

I look after the club type at work, he's actually pretty chill, he comes and greets me every morning 🥰

[@RebeccaGarcia-dm3ib]

Cool!

[@tythespy2809]

You are ROCKING that logo tie, Clint!! 💚🦎

[@MajoraZ]

The mantis shrimp is quite possibly at the very top of the list of "Animals that basically have superpowers yet surprisingly have not be turned into a Pokemon yet". We got a pistol shrimp back in 2013, but still no mants shrimp!... That aside, what's this about Insects possibly being crustaceans taxonomically, I want to hear more about that!

[@sergiomedina1099]

a murderous pokemon with that punch

[@davidben8426]

Back to the 90's when I bought live rock a mantis shrimp was on the rocks while I started out the reef tank (200L) dunno how much Gallon it was. So I took it as a pet and had it for 6 years in a glass aquarium, they're lovely to see but I couldn't add anything alive in it, was the most fun animal to have. He / she even knew when it was feeding time. I got hit by her punch 1x and yeah you feel it 🙂

[@whiteegretx]

I got so caught up in Clint's great explanation of the amazing physiology of these creatures that I forgot that this video was about having them as pets. Double bonus. Beautiful creatures.

[@Ozraptor4]

The "weed" mantis shrimps that are accidentally introduced into aquaria with live rock (usually small Gonodactylus spp.) make great pets in the own right if you're willing to set up their own tank. I've kept 3 stowaway stomatopods as pets over the years and found them to be among the most rewarding marine crustaceans to keep - getting it for free is a bonus (assuming it hasn't killed any of your other more expensive pets before you caught it in your main tank).

[@papyrusthegreat457]

Clint, could a Ridge Wallet survive a Mantis Shrimp punch? Just asking the important questions in life

[@ClintsReptiles]

I do think that it could, but I would love to test it!

[@-Tholos-]

That would be an awesome add. Assuming the wallet comes out intact. @@ClintsReptiles

[@Deeznuhts]

Everybody you feature on your channel is very professional and knowledgeable. I greatly appreciate it and I’m sure many others do, as well.

[@alexsch2514]

Love these guys. Basically, Mike Tyson, shrimp shaped and with super eyes.

[@edrozenrozen9600]

More like Bruce Lee

[@mantidream8179]

These and chameleons are, for my money, some of the best examples of wildly interesting evolution. Both have incredibly unorthodox senses of sight, a fantastic hunting tool, and can be quite colorful

[@LuckyStone888]

Weeds are just the name for an unwanted flower. Dandelions are called weeds, but some of us love Dandelions. I did have a friend who had their 40-something-gallon glass aquarium leak from a Mantis shrimp. It was an odd tank and it was older. I believe it leaked at the seams, so there might have been an issue with age and the Mantis striking at the right place.

[@KaylaKasel]

Dandelions are also edible! I agree, they deserve to be better appreciated.

[@Truthteller024]

Clint, I'm 6 months late to this video but I'm so glad you decided to do an episode about mantis shrimp! I have a small green smasher that will grow to about 4 inches in a 10 gallon tank. They are amazing, hardy creatures, and they are easy to keep.

[@volvandthepocketkaiju]

It made me unreasonably happy to see you cover this animal. 😄 As a big praying mantis fan, last year I got into keeping saltwater tanks in preparation to get this fascinating mantis-like stomatopod and I just finished cycling my second tank, so almost ready to start looking for a Purple Spot Mantis Shrimp. So exciting! 😄

[@parimalappaya9979]

as somebody who fears crustaceans the mantis shrimp is undeniably awesome

[@tosehoed123]

I'm not trying to make fun of your phobia, but that is such a strange phobia. Not that arachnophobia makes more sense, which is what I have. No issue with other invertebrates, not even centipedes. Makes me wonder why we have such phobias 😅

[@parimalappaya9979]

@@tosehoed123 LOL 😁

[@TNaizel]

​@@tosehoed123 arachnophobia makes sense, spider bites can be nasty or even life threatening so our hominid ancestors certainly had an evolutionary advantage in fearing them

[@bananizen]

Every time Clint films a video at the aquarium I get sad that I am unable to visit such a cool place. it looks awesome.

[@Christolclear101]

I wouldn’t mind seeing one on Hermit Crabs. As challenging as they can be to take care of, I’m confident you can make it easy to understand.

[@hadla]

True! Land hermits can be difficult to take care of and give them everything they need! This is why I went into saltwater tanks cause I love hermits and fully aquatic ones are much easier to care for! …except my favorite animals all eat hermits 😆 puffers, octopuses, and mantises

[@clownworld4655]

Also would help dispel the myths about proper care. Many people mistreat them causing them to die extremely young

[@Sporkyspork]

I'm so excited that you made this episode! Whenever I go to the aquarium I make sure to visit our mantis shrimp friend.

[@Alexis-im4xu]

Is the Mantis Shrimp the best pet crustacean? Probably not but they are definitely the sickest looking and coolest one.

[@knockers5943]

Thank you for making this video!! The mantis shrimp is one of my favorite animals on the planet!

[@davidvento5481]

I once had a pair of Harlequin Shrimp (a totally different crustacean) that were the same exact color as that purple & white Mantis Shrimp. The Harlequin’s lavender spots were outlined in electric lime green on a pure white bkgrnd. & they were specialty feeders, eating exclusively starfish. That purple striped mantis must be an exotic, tropical species. The “Peacock Mantis Shrimp” found in local Florida waters are mostly solid green with bright coloring on the front and tails. Every saltwater aquarium (after it’s cycled) should have a 25% - 35% water change monthly (not necessarily weekly.) The smaller the tank the more often water changes are required and the less stable it is. 50 gallons + is recommended.

[@FishFosh]

This was a treat! I'd love to see more crustacean (not just the insect kind) species highlighted on this channel!

[@ZombifiedWatermelon]

I was first introduced to the Mantis Shrimp by Zefrank's video. Their punching ability, to quote, "That's some Mortal Kombat finishing move s$&t right there" still wins the internet hahaha.

[@joshmerchant8737]

Mantis, what do your shrimp eyes see? Mantis Shrimp: EVERYTHING! 👁=👁

[@HomeSlice97]

The video I never knew I wanted to see from Clint

[@davood123]

That ridge wallet ad made me check my phone to see the video for a potential cameo. It has that bob odenkirk energy . Good work hahah

[@JoeNaz888]

I had a 50 gal acrylic tank, luckily, when I bought home a small peacock mantis shrimp. I didn’t realize that it was living in my coral until it quickly killed off my damsels. Well, I fell in love with it and kept it for about 3 yrs before I got a traveling gig. It was a very interesting creature.

[@valkyrie1994]

I have one!!! He's super smart and very awesome I can actually feed him by hand and he says hello to me every single time I walk by my tank!

[@jordanshreds747]

One of my absolute favorite creatures on the planet. They hacked the evolutionary weaponry allotment and maxed it out

[@alexisthinking]

Perfect timing with the video real science put out last weekend. ❤️

[@SkitAWulf242]

Peacock Mantis Shrimp are one my top two favorite sea creatures just bc of their eyes. Imagine having that crazy vision! Plus it's such a pretty animal with all those colors.

[@hogwartswhovian]

Gosh educating in this beautiful aquarium and giving tours would be such a dream job, manifesting this for myself one day

[@manuelromero8837]

A real Renaissance shrimp

[@Aqua-jp1wm]

What a rad way to wake up. Thanks Clint, keep up the good work

[@theL33Tm4ster]

katia was a great guest!

[@samuelkatz1124]

Hey Clint, if you ever get back to rodent reviews, consider guinea pigs. They seem to trade some of the intelligence of rats for a larger, hardier animal. Or even a full video on rodent phylogeny like youve done with crocodilians

[@Steve-sw3vn]

What an absolutely awesome tie (and crustacean). Great video :)

[@janawild4582]

Wow Clint, a video about mantis shrimps now!! very cool. I used to have one years ago. She was a small smasher species from Florida and she was wicked cool. I kept her in a glass tank, but she was a pretty small so I was not too worried about it, however the bigger smashers, like the peacock mantis, need to be kept in tanks with a little bit thicker glass.

[@the78thborn]

my coworker used to have a small clubbing species of mantis shrimp that came in on some florida live rock. It used to play peekaboo with her dogs

[@clemdelaclem]

Shoutout to Kaisen and Dom, the mantis-shrimp-befriending black fish

[@azoqza181]

Man these videos are soooooo fun, like each episode is its own new fun animals

[@KatieDeGo]

Well, we know that Clint's shower/3am thoughts are "What animal would I least like to be eaten by?" 😅 I LOVE IT!

[@HereticalKitsune]

ngl, I thought the background was indeed green screen. Amazing location to shoot!

[@michael7370]

So pumped for this video! I've wanted a mantis shrimp species only tank for so long.

[@antoniobrandao7139]

When I was seeing them being fed I was thinking “he doesn’t want to be fed, he wants to hunt.” Jurassic Park rules! 😅

[@thunderatigervideo]

I love the Loveland aquarium!!! Such a great place. I can easily spend all day watching the jelly fish. So relaxing. And the mantis shrimp is one of my favorite animals!

[@markjacobson4248]

I think it's worth noting that despite the enormous variety of different color receptors, Mantis Shrimp seem to have pretty poor capacity to differentiate colors

[@amandastakeonit7402]

Very interesting! I love learning from your videos.

[@uriel393]

I had 2 dozen mantis for over a decade, with up to 12 mantis tanks @ once (And 2 regular fish/coral tanks). While all smashers are very aggressive, many spearers 16:14 (Like the Lysosquillina Maculata (Zebra) in that aquarium segment are highly social. L. Maculata actually live in monogamous pairs, and there’s a pair in Hawaii (As of 2012) that had been observed for over a decade. Spearers pose no threat to glass in general, as they lack the dactyl strength. Smashers are a different matter, though most are too small to really do tank-walls serious damage. Odontadactylus Scyllarus (Peacock) is another matter, along with Gonodactylus ternatensis, G. glabrous, and a few of the other larger species. I had 2 O. Scyllarus, and I kept a fish in with each; a Domino damsel with one, and a Lemon Damselfish with the other. Neither fish was eaten. The Domino (Fats) would harass the live prey (Crabs) that I fed Dagon (O. S #1), helping hunt…and Banana-Bob (Lemondamsel) lived in Hydra’s (O.s.#2) burrow, like her pet dog. The most aggressive of my mantis was (By far) the G. Ternatensis (Baba Yaga), who wouldn’t even all a small anemone to be added to her tank without attacking the poor thing. Some played (Surfed by jumping off the water jets to bounce around the tank), all were very attentive when it was feeding time, and it has been documented that they have better individual sight-recognition better than a dog. Fun and fantastic pets. If I was allowed aquariums in my current home, I’d set up a half dozen mantis tanks, I miss the fantastic littke monsters.

[@z1az285]

Wow, amazing. I've read that the smashers seem to be more intelligent and recognize their keepers but was that case with the speakers based on your experience? Just curious

[@DaRealMoogyBoogy]

LOVE THESE VIDEOS SO MUCH

[@Kormelev]

So gland you talked about their eyes. Truly the most amazing part of a totally amazing animal.

[@doesnotexist6524]

Man, you really had to hold her hand through that interview.

[@MrGrombie]

When I am out to the woods or ocean, I always bring some super glue in case I need to fix a wound. Leaves nasty scars. But I don't need stitches.

[@browpetj]

Great video, didnt know about the eggs and youngsters hitching a ride into tanks. Definitely worth getting ceramic, stay away from toughened glass as well (the curved or wavey glass tanks). Have two friends in Asia with them and they haven't had any issues with glass. If you have glass, you can put sticky foam on the outside and on the bottom to absorb resonances and mitiagate cracking. Keep them fed, cos they will smash the glass more if hungry. Live food keeps them happier and they develop really cool skills that way ofcourse. A bit too much for me watching live food be bludgeoned to death by these formidable predators every day though! Interesting biological adaptation here that nobody seems to talk about: they are really fast (other crustaceans and hexopods can be fast but chose not to be) becasue they are really fragile. Sounds counter intuitive and they are revered as hardcore predators. But they have extreme adaptations that mean they have to really burn alot of calories and adapt their behaviour to stay safe. As a biologist, I see their fragility and how they have adapted. A crab could easily clip off those thin mandibular parts, maxilliules etc... And those eyes, very fragile indeed. A brilliant organism with lots to give if watching and caring for it no doubt... Very rewarding. And somewhat disgusting! True nature.

[@sneakysnape3425]

Love the tie!

[@mrfancysnail2699]

this is a great explanation of one of the coolest animals out there

[@gregmatthews5602]

Hey Clint, you should do hermit crabs next. I think it would be informal because most are taken from wild and are miss treated. They are often sold at pet stores and given away as park game prizes at fairs.

[@JP-gg5we]

Please do a shoebill stork. I find them fascinating.

[@annikkirahko6714]

My hubby is obsessed with these things. We really want one eventually

[@dacisky]

Fasinateing and fun. Thanks for this.

[@platty9237]

Oh he did it! These things fascinate me. I’ve seen a video of one fighting an octopus. The feeding videos are also interesting, because you can hear the snap from the punches coming from the aquarium.

[@strider5119]

yeah, you can hear it all through the house. It's quite loud

[@percythecryptid]

Never thouht I'd hear about the shrimp colours here, but here we are!

[@indyreno2933]

Arthropods are invertebrates that constitute the phylum Arthropoda, arthropods are divided into two major clades, the first of these is the subphylum Myriochelata, Myriochelata is divided into two lineages, which are the superclasses Myriapoda (Myriapods) with the classes Pauropoda (Pauropods), Symphyla (Symphylans), Diplopoda (Millipedes), and Chilopoda (Centipedes) and Chelicerata (Chelicerates) with the classes Pycnogonida (Sea Spiders), Merostomata (Horseshoe Crabs and Fossil Relatives), and Arachnida (Arachnids), the second clade is the subphylum Pancrustacea, Pancrustacea is also divided into two groups, which are the superclasses Crustacea (Crustaceans) with the classes Ostracoda (Ostracods), Maxillopoda (Maxillopods), Thecostraca (Thecostracans), Hexanauplia (Hexanauplians), Malacostraca (Malacostracans), Cephalocarida (Cephalocaridans), Branchiopoda (Branchiopods), and Remipedia (Remipeds) and Hexapoda (Hexapods) with the classes Entognatha (Non-Insect Hexapods) and Insecta (Insects).

[@spurguvitunhuora9119]

Ive waited a long time for Clint to tell us about some crab or shrimp creatures that make great pets. Since Ive had mangrove/vampire/halloween crabs for years and they are also so easy.... Oh. This is the first one. You really started from the deep end.

[@connorkitchen7285]

“15 years of a razor-fisted mini-Mike Tyson” That’s a GOLDEN observation.

[@holdenbauer1255]

Love the tie

[@ice_cream_dino_5292]

I owned a mantis shrimp earlier in the year, as a new tank owner he didn’t make it through his molt and I was devastated but they are by far the coolest create i have ever own!! such an amazing pet definitely recommend just do your research I will be getting one again sometime

[@forrestredd2706]

Legitimately looks like a JRPG final boss.

[@naphackDT]

The thing about shattering the glass is that the water exerts a lot of outwards pressure, so the glass is vulnerable to shocks from the inside.

[@mrpib272]

These are turning into my favorite animal

[@edrozenrozen9600]

Handling: "Are you feeling lucky, Punk?"

[@indoplants7040]

I really needed this video, cause I was thinking about getting one, cause I already have experience with saltwater aquariums and particular invertebrates

[@loriw2661]

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp is beautiful!!!

[@dapeach06]

I cared for a large Peacock Mantis Shrimp at the National Zoo in DC for 3 years. We took no chances and the tank was made of very thick "bullet resistant" glass. Probably wouldve been acrylic if the exhibit was newer, but it was 2014 when the exhibit closed, idk how long ago the tank was actually made, it was old. You could feel the hits through the feeding rod, it would smack it away after grabbing the food off it. We never, ever, let anyone's hands go in the tank. I cringed when her hand went into the water in this video, but then again the one in this video is a spearer, not a smasher

[@leder609]

Referring to these awesome creatures as weeds is almost an insult, but in a sense also a compliment. You have got to love them!

[@Alberad08]

Dear Sir, thanks a lot for creating & sharing these! I too thought that your background was a green screen :-)

[@squidarcherb9707]

I love these guys! Might set up a mangrove tank for them

[@Gojira86]

Had a O. Japonicus for years, love that little guy.

[@alexallen9640]

Nice video, I like Mantis Shrimp. I was surprised at the score it got, and it was nice to see you reference Jurassic Park, especially this month and year. 🙂👍

[@susanmartin3762]

You have selected my very favorite critter from the ocean! They can kick some serious booty!!

[@BertSurl]

Going to purchase mantis shrimp supplies now. Wish us luck!

[@stuchly1]

I love and adore mantis shrimp

[@whlnmchl]

Video idea ballistic hand vs mantis shrimp, you asked the question the world is waiting for the answer!

[@jean-sebastienmatte2358]

Massimo Aquatics is a youtuber that shows the antics of his 2 pet mantis shrimps. I never tought I would watch shrimps m*rder crabs, but he was there to contradict that notion.

[@robertmacfergus9288]

It would be nice if you covered Polypterids at some point, they are possibly the easiest fish. They breath air and as such don't have the most demanding water parameters, they don't dig, they don't fight among themselves, they don't eat plants, they are very easy to feed, and even if they jump out of your tank they will wander around for a bit and can just be put back in(you still should have a tight fitting lid of course with some room for them to breath). The captive breeding has gotten better know delhezis and even ornatipinnis can be bought captive bred instead of just senegalus. The delhezi and senegalus also can have relatively small tanks and since they are basically blind and not very smart they just behave like fish and less like pets which is nice if you want a really natural looking aquarium. They also live into their 30s, and because they are slow growing don't eat nearly as much as one would expect. I find it odd how little popularity they have, I also expect that they are likely a fish that would appeal to reptile keepers. They kind of look like what would happen if you combined a crocodile, a sturgeon and snake. Also like what we think tiktaalik would have looked like. Also despite being ray finned fish they convergently evolved lobed fins, they breath threw spiracles on the top of their heads and death roll just making them simply cool. They also walk around on the bottom of their tank, it is super cute. You want a bowfin get a polypterid, you want a snakehead but they are illegal in your area get a polypterid, want a sturgeon get a polypterid, want a crocodile get a polypterid, want a true eel or a bony eel get a polypterid, want a lungfish get a polypterid, want a tiktaalik get a polypterid. A Phylogeny video on them would be great as well, there are not that many of them.

[@dmpsie_]

Katia was a great guest

[@dsafsfas]

such an awesome animal to review!!!

[@coreyroberson4550]

I used to have a green mantis shrimp (smaller species, about three inches) that I rescued from being killed as an unwanted hitchhiker at a store. I setup a small tank just for it, and it punched a tunnel/home into the live rock. It got to the point that it would take krill straight from my hand (very small species, not that dangerous). Mantis shrimp are amazing creatures. In addition to their cool eyes and forearms, they are also quite intelligent and can recognize and respond differently to their caretaker vs. other random humans.