"Mantis" shrimp

[jd]

What exactly are these, and how do people accidentaly get them in thier tanks,
I have seen a few threads about, oh my god, clicking, i think i have a mantis, o god, i found a mantis today!
Just wondering about these little critters, and if they are a problem with live rock or what the deal is.
I am piecing together parts for a 300 that i want to be up next year, and dont want to fish one out of it
I have never seen or heard of anyone with one IRL, but i have only been doing this for about 8 months and only have a 55gal
thanks, curiousity killed the cat...not ill probably get one..knock on wood

 

[slammy16]

I have seen one. Large. In my lfs. It was the craziest thing i have ever seen, was walkin or i guess running back and forth out of his little cave. The thing must have been 4inches long had crazy colors around its head with these weird disk things, man its a site i will never forget. I asked the guy what does he eat.. and he says .... everything. There mean little buggers. I have heard people on this website talk about little small ones zooming in and out of holes in LR, but this thing takes the cake. I dont think i would recommend one unless you are very careful of what you put in your tank. If im you i get that sucker out of there before he grows to big.

 

[jd]

Just read some interestign articles about them in some dive mags, and about.com
Dont know how true it is, but some full grown "smashers" can break aquarium glass while hunting prey.
Also found interesting pics of them, your right, they are crazy looking. If i ever find one hiding in my tank ill be sure to give him away

 

[tizzo]

The prettyier peacock mantis is a very interesting creature. Some people set up a tank just to keep one. It seems to study you as you study it.
But the mantis that we usually get as hitch hikers are plain ol' brown or green. They hide in a hole in the rock and they will eat your fish, snails etc...
They are extremely hard to catch, thus making them such a pest!!
Yes they can break aquarium glass. When they catch fish they thrust their "claw" forward piercing thier prey. If they hit the glass instead well...