How can i distinguish mantis shrimp and amphipods?

[romeofoeve]

i have been seeing shrimplike pods in my tank and i dont know if theyre mantis or amphipods. they do have the large front appendages like antis but they look similar to the pictures of apmhipods. how can i distinguish the 2?

 

[nm reef]

For starters....a mantis shrimp will be much larger......

 

[dogstar]

Baby mantis shrimp when only about .5 in big will be solid white. Pods are more transparent.

 

[greatfullreefer]

Originally Posted by romeofoeve
how can i distinguish the 2?
One will attempted to cut your finger off and the other wont.