Adolescent mantis shrimp? ID please

[lastpikd]

Hey guys,

So I have noticed this small creature creating this tube in my sand bed along my front glass. Right now, the tube is about 1 inch long and the thing inside is probably about 3/8 to half an inch. When it moves it seems shrimp like as you can see the fluttering of the tail. The Internet doesn't provide any descent pictures of mantis shrimp or pistol shrimp. I'm just wondering if I should be proactive now or let him grow up a little to verify if it's actually a pest.

 

[Martini5788]

I can't tell anything from that picture. But the Internet has tons of pictures of mantis and pistol shrimp. Where is the rock from?

 

[lifeoffaith]

I'd be more worried about it being an Echinadiae Worm. I think they are black when they're older, but I have no idea what they look like when young.

 

[Marty.H]

If in doubt sump it until you know what it is could potentially save yourself a future headache if it's a bad one.

 

[hotelbravo]

There are tons of different kinds of stomatopods (mantis shrimp) ranging from tiny species at less than an inch to very large species but I dont think that what your looking at is a mantis. A better picture would help us but in the mean time good "stomatopods" and you should be able to find some decent pictures

 

[lastpikd]

Just an amphipod. I scooped it out and then was able to identify it from pictures on the web.