A 5 gal aquarium is only suitable for smaller stomatopods under about 7 cm total length. They are unlikely to break glass the thickness of most 5 gal tanks. There are a couple of large species capable of breaking aquarium glass. These would include adult Hemisquilla californiensis (>9 inches) and larger Odontodactylus scyllarus (> 5 inches). However, neither of these should go into an aquarium close to this size. There are a few gonodactylids like Gonodactylus chiragra and Gonodactylaceus ternatensis that can grow to the 4-5 inch range. These larger individuals can crack and chip glass, particularly when they try to dig in a corner. Again, they should not go in a 5 gal, but if they did, you could have a problem. For the standard 3 inch Neogonodactylus wennerae or G. smithii, you do not need acrylic.
As for iodine, I have heard for years that it is necessary for molting in stomatopods, but to my knowledge there is not a single study showing this. In my experience, a normal diet of crabs, shrimp and mollusks provides all the iodine and other nutrients necessary for normal molting. Other factors such as exercise and nitrate levels are, in my experience, more important.
Roy
