View Full Version : Mantis Shrimp on TV
M-pire
02-02-2004, 12:03 AM
Watching a show on Animal Planet tonight about the most extreme senses. Number two in the list (count down to one) was the Mantis Shrimp for having the most extreme eyes on the planet. They said it has binocular eyes that are so good they can recognize individuals and even the difference between the person who feeds it and strangers. It has 16 pigments it sees in its eye as opposed to our 3. Also, it processes information it sees in its eye, because its brain is too small. Just makes you think a little more about these shrimp so many people hate...but it still doesn't make me want one. :shake:
Sorry if this is old news, but I don't remember anyone mentioning this in recent past. :cool:
I'm busy switching back and forth between the Animal Planet shows and "Predators of the sea" on National Geographic Channel :D
hmmmm, so he sees me and I cannot see him.:mad2 So if one cannot catch them does that mean could be using less brain space?????
Gealcath
02-02-2004, 1:10 AM
They are also intelligent, if a trap fails the first time to catch them, they will avoid it.
Dale W.
02-02-2004, 12:22 PM
Why do we hate them so much?
Because they are smarter than most of us :D
mogurnda
02-02-2004, 12:44 PM
I can't say I hate them as much as fear them. As a diver, I'm just glad they don't get big enough to eat people.
i think people hate mantis shrimp because they eat small to mid-sized fish, and some invertebrates. Is that correct?
But why fear the mantis shrimp?
OrionGirl
02-04-2004, 2:15 PM
Mantis shrimp have the well earned knick name of thumb splitters. They will defend themselves, and both the spearer and club varieties will do some damage if you come into contact with them. I had a club variety, and it was surprising how hard he could smack things. I used nylon tongs anytime I worked near it, and it could hit the tongs hard enough to knock them out of my hand. Pretty sure it would have bruised, and possibly broken, a finger.
M-pire
02-04-2004, 2:37 PM
How big was it to be that forcefull?
OrionGirl
02-04-2004, 2:49 PM
About an inch and a half, maybe 2 inches. Not as big around as my thumb--about as big around as a Sharpie marker. Yes, I really did measure it; no, I am not some feeble little old lady; yes, it shocked the heck out of me the first time!
M-pire
02-04-2004, 3:04 PM
Originally posted by OrionGirl
Ab Yes, I really did measure it; no, I am not some feeble little old lady; yes, it shocked the heck out of me the first time!
:D
I'll just hope I never have to accidently find one...for my safety and the safety of my inverts! :)
That is amazing. I suggest testing it's powerful kung-fu-like chop with an inch thick wood. And perhaps it's snapper will become lodged within the wood, enabling you to easily remove the marine invader.
cybball
02-04-2004, 4:18 PM
That is nuts. I've got one in my liverock and I'm planning my attack. The fish supply guy told me to hunt it down and kill it. It's cool looking. I haven't seen it attack anything. It runs around inside my rock. There are all these little tunnels inside the rock it lives in. It will peek out of one, then I see him run through and peek out another hole. I'm moving in two weeks, so I have to tear down my tank. Think I may put that piece of rock in a small container seperate and try to root him out. Don't want to lose any inverts. He actually will come out a ways to get flake and pellet food. He's very colorful. Looks like pinks, oranges, ect. Too bad they have a bad rap.
Seamonkey84
02-04-2004, 8:10 PM
I'm a happy owner of one of these little critters. Though they are a hazard in a tank full of fish and inverts, they make an excelent secies tank. they are amazingly durable little critters, hard to kill. i have mine in a 5gallon with 2inches of sand, 2lbs of LR, heater and an airstone. Mine is still small, only about 1.5 inches. It eats almost anything you put in there, including the blue leg hermits, small snails, leaves my turbo snails alone.
Rucca
02-05-2004, 12:36 AM
have gotten up to 15 inches in length!! whoa
Gealcath
02-05-2004, 2:06 AM
Mantis shrimp strike with the same force and speed as a 22 caliber bullet, and the larger types like the Harlequin can get to 12-16"
tricksterpup
02-05-2004, 12:02 PM
Actually these guys would be perfect for a small nano tank. :) I am planning on getting some live rock soon and If I find any, they would be perfect for a 5 or 2.5 gallon tank I have. There are those who want something kick a$$ for their tanks such as oscars, lion fish or any other predator fish, they should actually look at these lil critters.
jim