Amphipod or Mantis Shrimp?

[J-P]

I know the 2 are confused quite regularly, but I was wondering if I could tell by behavior which one is which?

I have seen some Amphipods in my tank, but this one was different.
Color was green, and the behavior was strange. It spun around in its hole and would push out debris similar to the way a pistol shrimp buries itself. Only this was not in the sand, it was in the live rock.

I tried to get a video of it, but it didn't help. Anytime the camera was on the little bugger (no pun intended), would sit there and stare at the camera and refused to dig. When I removed the camera, it went right back digging :hmm4:

Why it might be a mantis:
- it pushed the debris out in a forward motion. It doesn't kick it out backwards. It is a shoveling motion.
- the color. The amphipods that I have seen in there are the classic white with brown / dark stripes.

Why it might be an Amphipod:
- It is the same size and shape (aprox 2 mm long)
- I can't tell if it has eye stalks or not. It appears not to have them.

Any thoughts?

 

[AJSTITAN14]

It's an amphipod. Mantis shrimp are much larger and have very sophisticated highly developed eyes. These eyes are situated on the body such that they can peer out of cover without exposing themselves.

And I'd need to see evidence that the two are confused quite regularly.

 

[J-P]

Only by us noobs Which is why we ask the silly questions. Many if the "is this a mantis" questions there turn out to be "its a pod".

"Hope you can find a way to get a good picture. Meanwhile, I would suggest you look at various other types of small "pods," in particular the Anthurid isopods, as you wouldn't be the first to mistake them for tiny mantids..."

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic114874-11-1.aspx?Highlight=mantis

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[bobbychullo]

well, judge for yourself. as you may see, no real comparison to an amphipod really. of course there are many types; colors and sizes. but if my amphipods acted like that, i'd have a problem LOL!

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mu6yrC6bjNo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[J-P]

that is not 2mm. If it is .. then that guy had the BEST macro video camera known to man

Thank-you for the video though. It just makes me want a Mantis even more!

 

[bobbychullo]

yeah, the size and especially the behavior are completely different for each. different species of mantis shrimp range from a couple of inches to over 12 inches if i am not mistaken. the largest amphipod in my tank is maybe 3 mm. of course a mantis has to grow and at some point i am sure its the size of an amphipod but i am no expert on either so i can't really comment on that.

 

[bobbychullo]

amphipod:

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MkLKp89Bekc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/o2QDREQ99us" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Matsu49]

Thanks for the clarification and the videos. Earlier tonight I freaked out when I saw what I thought was a baby mantis. I'm relieved to know now that it was just an amphipod.

 

[ritter6788]

It could very well be a mantis since you say it's green and the behavior is very "mantis" like. When people mention mantis shrimp lots of people start picturing those youtube videos of large peacocks smashing crabs and such. Mantis are planktonic when they hatch and are millimeters in size when they settle out. My mantis that I have now was only slightly larger than an amphipod when I got him from a friend that had 2 in his live rock. You'll know for sure if you start hearing clicks in the tank. Even a tiny mantis makes a sound loud enough to clearly hear outside of the tank. A picture will leave no doubt. Even if you can't get a pic of it digging, a picture of it looking out of hole will be enough to ID.

 

[bobbychullo]

stomatopod larva
http://www.imagequest3d.com/pages/current/pictureoftheweek/stomatopod/stomatopod.htm

one of the closest matches i could find on the internet. if you look close enough you will begin to see differences