Holding a Huge Mantis (video )

[my2rotties]

Mantis are amazing creatures. I read all about their eyesight, and was amazed. Very formidable predator. I know my guy just gave me a warning since I was careless in respecting his territory. I did learn areas he could not reach me when I had to clean up his tank just in case. If you are really close to his arms he cannot strike out correctly to spear. I watched him wait patiently for a fish to swim by within the correct range, which was farther away then I would imagine. When my guy struck out I was out of there so fast I smacked my hand on the lights above the tank. It scared the bejeezus out of me, big time.

I have seen him spear fish and know he could kill a fish larger then himself. A mantis is a pretty peaceful and reclusive creature and I know they don't appreciate being disturbed unless you have a damsel or two for them to hunt.

I did find the video did send the wrong message to others, and perhaps if he got even a warning strike he would feel the power behind the wake of the water like I had felt. Perhaps you can teach them a certain amount of tolerance, but why bother... I wish people could enjoy the animal for what it is and enjoy it from afar like I enjoyed mine. I have to say they really don't do very much most of the time, and can be quite boring. They lay there on theri sides of backs in their sand pits and wait for prey to swim by...

I am not a monster that wants people hurt, but this is a no brainer and perhaps the mantis is waiting for the right chance to make a point. They are very patient and can wait forever it seems to do anything.

Originally Posted by Dolf

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...

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.

[sunce_22]

I have held one of of my mantis shrimp, just a little one, but I wouldn't do it again, it was a very impulsive move due to a lack of having a net... didn't quite think that one through very well, but all still have all my fingers lol.

Everyone goes through a lapse of good judgement every now and then, its whether you learn from you mistake or not!