Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Scientific Name : Odontodactylus Scyllarus
Origin : Indo-Pacific
Temperament : Semi-Aggressive
Temperature : 72F - 82F
Maximum Size : 18 Inches
Diet : Carnivore
Difficulty : Easy
Reef Safe : Yes
Tank Size : 100 Gallons
The Peacock Mantis Shrimp is undoubtedly the most beautiful member of the mantis shrimp family. Mantis on the whole, do come in from time to time as ornamental aquarium shrimp. However, most people that attempt to rear this species normally set up a tank exclusively for them as they are excellent hunters of fish and crustaceans.
Mantis shrimp look more like a cross between a praying mantis and a shrimo more than it does a crustacean. They are lethal predators in the wild that can also inflict severe injuries on humans as well. They have some of the fastest strikes in the world as seen in the videos below. Their strike is so fast that the entire motion of attack cannot be seen fully with the naked eye. They also have one of the most sophistcated eyes throughout the animal kingdom. They are able to perceive polarized light as well as anything from ultraviolet light to infrared.
Mantis shrimp have possession of two types of weaponry. They are either spearers or smashers. Spearers have extremely sharp blades that are used to slice or impale fishes and shrimp. These blades will easily slice through the fingers of a human being, hence their popular nickname among divers, "Thumbsplitters". Peacock mantis shrimp on the other hand, are smashers. Their weapons are blunt were designed to take on the hard armor of crustaceans. Crabs are a favorite prey of the peacock mantis shrimp as their thick carapace is no match for the crushing blows delivered by smashers. The force of the blow is so powerful that it is compared with the force exerted by a .22 caliber bullet.
Because of this, smashers have been known to crack the glass of their own aquarium display. While such an event can occur, they are rare. While mantis shrimp are some of the most beautiful and exotic crustaceans from our seas, many hobbyist consider them pests that hitchhike through liverock. A species aquarium is usually set up exclusively for them due the fact that they are highly efficient predators.
They will hunt down any fish or crustacean provided they can be overpowered and are not too large. Peeacock mantis shrimp are generally quite hardy and do well in captivity provided they have ample prey. Due to the extreme danger their deadly appendages pose to our fingers, it is wise to keep your fingers out of the aquarium as much as possible during maintenance or a re-scape of the liverock.
Peacock mantis shrimp may be difficult to feed in captivity as many of them are used to eating live prey. They generally ignore pellets, frozen cubes and other foods that do not resemble live foods of some sort. All mantis shrimp are strictly carnivores in the wild.
One way around this would be to provide them with a constant supply of cheap live crabs. Since crabs are mostly viewed as pests, this should not be a problem. The problem lies in getting crabs of a good size. There have been some that have experimented with whole frozen crabs from the market with success.
As they are a large species that can reach a foot and a half in length, they do require larger aquariums. But because they are a site attached crustaceans, they do not necessarily travel around a whole lot. They are a burrowing species that stay within their burrow until they detect the presence of prey.
Peacock mantis shrimp are definitely not for everyone as they have specific needs and usually cannot be mixed in with marine aquarium fish and crustaceans of any kind. In this sense, they are much like rearing an octopus. They need a large tank that they can have to themselves. But they are also a very hardy and undemanding species once you can ensure they obtain a good diet. There are small pockets of mantis shrimp enthusiasts here and there that specialize in the rearing of these beautiful creatures. The best resource on them can be found at the mantis shirmp forum over at Reefcentral. Visit them by clicking here.
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