Mantis shrimp and shattering aquarium walls

[Lars Kellogg-Stedman]

Howdy all,

While reading about mantis shrimp, I've encountered several web sites
that say something along the lines of "The power of it's club
approaches that of a .22 caliber bullet and has been known to shatter
double wall aquarium glass...".
That would be pretty impressive, if it were true, but after poking
around for a while I haven't been able to find anything more definate
than "there are stories that..." and "people say that..." or "has been
known to...".

I'm wondering if anyone can point to actual documentation of a mantis
shrimp shattering an aquarium -- double walled or otherwise :).

Thanks,

-- Lars

[Steve \Srfmon\]

At my LFS I've seen them in plastic containers. People always stare as
they pound their way out of their cups.
I've never actually heard of one of these breaking a tank before & I
know a person who keeps one in a 5g acrylic nano.
Ticking time bomb? I guess I'll wait & see!
Steve

"Lars Kellogg-Stedman" > wrote in message
om...
> Howdy all,
>
> While reading about mantis shrimp, I've encountered several web sites
> that say something along the lines of "The power of it's club
> approaches that of a .22 caliber bullet and has been known to shatter
> double wall aquarium glass...".
> That would be pretty impressive, if it were true, but after poking
> around for a while I haven't been able to find anything more definate
> than "there are stories that..." and "people say that..." or "has been
> known to...".
>
> I'm wondering if anyone can point to actual documentation of a mantis
> shrimp shattering an aquarium -- double walled or otherwise :).
>
> Thanks,
>
> -- Lars

[Mastablast]

TLC(or another) had a segment about fast reflexes. The mantis was a
feature. The had highspeed footage on the mantis breaking the side of a
glass tank. really impressive.


"Lars Kellogg-Stedman" > wrote in message
om...
> Howdy all,
>
> While reading about mantis shrimp, I've encountered several web sites
> that say something along the lines of "The power of it's club
> approaches that of a .22 caliber bullet and has been known to shatter
> double wall aquarium glass...".
> That would be pretty impressive, if it were true, but after poking
> around for a while I haven't been able to find anything more definate
> than "there are stories that..." and "people say that..." or "has been
> known to...".
>
> I'm wondering if anyone can point to actual documentation of a mantis
> shrimp shattering an aquarium -- double walled or otherwise :).
>
> Thanks,
>
> -- Lars

[John]

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2004/04/21_shrimp.shtml

They have a video link on the right-hand side pane. 5000 frames per second,
slowed down to 883. I couldnt get it to open here at work, maybe someone else
can try.
~John

[John]

Ok so I got that video to work, its not breaking glass, its attacking a snail.
Found some other interesting stuff:
grim-reefers.com Marine Predator forum
http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/update.htm Lots of mantis links, if you use
browser's find function (ctrl + f in IE) search for "inch" and you'll see a
news clipping of a tank broken.
~John

[JustPhish0911]

I keep a peacock mantis in a ten gallon display at the shop. I have had many
MANY customers come and tap and annoy that poor shrimp to it's wits end. It
always smacks the glass at them but has not broken it......yet.
Thanks,
JP
www.justphish.com

[Fishnut]

On 29 Jul 2004 02:15:19 GMT, (John) wrote:

>http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2004/04/21_shrimp.shtml
>
>They have a video link on the right-hand side pane. 5000 frames per second,
>slowed down to 883. I couldnt get it to open here at work, maybe someone else
>can try.
>~John

John,

Thanks, the video worked fine for me. Imagine if one of these was
about 20 feet long. It would certainly reduce the numbers of swimmers
in tropical waters. LOL.

Regards, Fishnut.

[Curt]

(Lars Kellogg-Stedman) wrote in message >...
> Howdy all,
>
> While reading about mantis shrimp, I've encountered several web sites
> that say something along the lines of "The power of it's club
> approaches that of a .22 caliber bullet and has been known to shatter
> double wall aquarium glass...".
> That would be pretty impressive, if it were true, but after poking
> around for a while I haven't been able to find anything more definate
> than "there are stories that..." and "people say that..." or "has been
> known to...".
>
> I'm wondering if anyone can point to actual documentation of a mantis
> shrimp shattering an aquarium -- double walled or otherwise :).
>
> Thanks,
>
> -- Lars

The reason you can't find a lot of pictures is because it rarely
happens. Only 4 species are even capable of doing it and only when
they are full grown. Odontodactylus scyllarus, Hemisquilla ensigera,
Gonodactylus chiragra, and Gonodactyllaceus graphurus. They will take
out your glass heaters though so you want to go with a titanium
heater.

Contrary to public opinion, none of the mantis that you get as a
hitchhiker on LR is likely to be able to do a bit of damage.

There were previously only 3 thought to be capable until Dr. Caldwell
went on his recent research tour.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=300210&highlight=broken+tank
BTW...Gonodactylus is Dr. Roy Caldwell