Holding a Huge Mantis (video )

levi1803 · #1 03-23-2009, 12:51 PM

I don't think I would be doing that, he's got more guts than I do.

Chowder · #2 03-23-2009, 03:48 PM

Thats just crazy. What would even make someone think of that?

Chris

justinl · #3 03-23-2009, 04:11 PM

that's not brave, that's just plain stupid. This is one of the species that can split your finger down to the bone. Mantis shrimp also tend to get a lot of nasty bacteria growing on their carapaces; which is why they molt... so they don't infect themselves. And being terrestrial in nature, we don't have much defense against marine viruses and bacteria.

Leah · #4 03-23-2009, 04:13 PM

I will remember that everytime I siphon out my tank, yum!

subman · #5 03-23-2009, 04:56 PM

It reminds me of a documentary on sharks I was watching a while back, a so called expert was walking knee deep with i think it was bull sharks talking about how they won't attack because he's not afraid and they can sense it, Then one of them stripped his calf off! I'll see if I can find the video and post it.

subman · #6 03-23-2009, 04:57 PM

here is the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pjbH5OuBc4

my2rotties · #7 03-23-2009, 05:04 PM

I had one of those and returned it to the store since it was a risk to try to do anything to the fuge with him in there. Mine struck out at me and missed and I could feel the wake of the water as his spears whipped past my hand. I could hear the strike as well. I do know they are opportunistic so this guys shrimp just did not have the correct range to strike out at him. They need a certain amount of distance to strike and this guy was just lucky he was not in correct range.

I would not say that they are stupid at all. It is a very formidable predator and I saw it let a damsel fish sit on it's head for a number of days prior to killing and eating it. They love to hunt and enjoy live foods which I just did not have the stomach to give him anymore.

I hope we see a video with him getting nailed in the future. That shrimp could skewer his hand and then what is he going to do to get it out?

JDigital · #8 03-23-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my2rotties

I hope we see a video with him getting nailed in the future.

That's a pretty cruel thing to wish on somebody... Yes, he is taking a chance, No, its probably not something I would try, but to hope he gets struck for your entertainment is disgusting.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #9 03-23-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my2rotties

I hope we see a video with him getting nailed in the future.

Dolf · #10 03-24-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my2rotties

Mine struck out at me and missed and I could feel the wake of the water as his spears whipped past my hand. I could hear the strike as well...

I doubt that your shrimp was wanting to hit you- perhaps just a warning? Our eyesight is binocular- a mantis shrimp is trinocular. If you do a quick search on their eyesight you will get statements such as " Mantis shrimp have the most complex eyes of all animals. Each eye is on a stalk and can move independently of the other. They are each separated into three bands (trinocular vision), allowing each eye to see objects from three different perspectives, giving both of them highly-developed depth perception. They can detect wavelengths from the infra-red to the ultraviolet; in all they can see ten times more colors than humans. Moreover, they are the only animals that can detect circular polarized light (CPL)."

In addition to it's reflexes it's eyesight makes me think that it may have been giving you "fair warning" instead of trying to sever your fingers...

Quote:

Originally Posted by my2rotties

If you go through people's comments on this video, it is promoting people's desire to own one now... so they can play around with it and bother it... How many people bought one and tormented it? Everybody on this forum cares about the well being of our aquatic life, a mantis is not different.

I doubt that many people have done that simply because a mantis shrimp is not know to have self control and the news has not reported a rash of new reefers being impaled by mantis shrimp. They are smart in some ways but ruled by instinct and if you are going to play with one you are more likely than not going to be hit. My guess is that although the guy in the video is stupid, he has done this many times and that is why he was taping it with very little fear. Eventually any living thing can become accustomed to people and while most are not worthy of the trust that some people place in them, they are, to one extent or another “trained.” Look at Seigfield (SP?) and Roy. One accident with a well trained intelligent animal.

By getting it used to the idea that he provides food and getting it used to his hand over time he likely minimized the chances of being struck. Is it a good idea? no... is it torturing the animal- well, again I refer you the the fact that if the animal felt it was in imminent danger the guy would have lost blood and flesh...

And for the record- I do not feel bad at all in saying that I watched it fully expecting the shrimp to split his finger open and somewhat hoping that it would. I am a proud supporter of the Darwin awards and feel no pity when things that are bound to happen do. When you spill hot coffee on your lap because you are driving don't come crying to me- when your shrimp splits your finger open because you squeezed it a little too hard I am going to laugh. It is just me.