Fact or Fiction

[Agu]

I've heard from a few sources, "Don't ever stick your hand in the tank. " when I've mentioned a mantis tank. The inside acrylic needs cleaning, (6 gallon acrylic with n. wennerae ), am I going to get attacked if I wipe down the inside of the tank using my hand and a cleaning pad. Because of the tiny top opening the usual scrapers won't work.

Is the warning fact, or fiction due to uniformed opinions?

Agu

 

[Agu]

Did the research myself,

Inside of tank clean, all digits intact .

fwiw,

Agu

 

[dc]

LOL, I think Dr. Roy had a picture of one getting his thumb awhile back. I stick my hand in my tank all the time, but I have a little species. He does come out and keep a close eye on what I'm doing tho. He could certainly whack me before I ever knew what happened.

 

[MDKyleZ]

I place my hand in my mantis tank all the time, they even eat right out of my hand.

It's fiction...

Kyle

 

[Gonodactylus]

Seems like I can't seem to get across the message that a stomatopod is not any stomatopod. I certainly get hit occasionally by G. wennerae, but only when I'm handling them to sex or measure and animals. If you passed your finger by an entrance, you might be hit, but it is not going to be fatal. On the other hand, I try to be careful of Odontodactylus scyllarus. They usually will not attack, but some individuals will get cranky and being hit by a 5 inch O.s. is no fun. I'm also careful around Lysiosquillina maculata and Hemisquilla. Adult Taku I handle all the time (they are 12 mm long.)

Hand feeding is not something I would like to do. Stomatopods often come to identify food with the delivery method. I currently have about 20 O.s. Most just take their shrimp off the feeding stick, but three or four nearly always strike it.

I've seen people hand-feed sharks, barracuda and giant Pacific octopus. I've also seen people hand feeding these predators bitten. Why risk it, particularly when we know that at least a couple of people stabbed by an O.s. developed an infection that did not respond to antibiotics and which in one case led to ampulation.

Roy

 

[Agu]

Tried to do some redocorating in my N. Wennerae tank. Not a universally accepted practice, finally got whacked by the mantis. My oscellaris clown momma has a worse bite ..... but the surprise factor still sent water flying .

Agu

 

[lllosingit]

My Mantis came out to see what I was doing one time and decided to see if my I had anything in my hand by swimming into my palm, everything was fine until he saw my thumb and decided to see if he could crack it open.
Good thing he was small (3")

 

[Dan87]

When I was snorkling in the keys I saw a brick in the water and decided to move it and see if anything was living there. When I was trying to lift it a small 3" mantis came around to see what I was doing so I backed off. They seem to not be afraid at all. He just went up to my fins and sat there.

Anyways,I got my water tested and evrything seems fine. My dad is sending me a 5inchr O.S. for my 20g . I hope all is well for this one. If not I'll have to do some more extensive work to get it right.

 

[Gonodactylus]

lllosingit,

THrough out the Caribbean stomatopods are known locally as "split thumbs" and "split toes". It varies from location to location which name is used. I'm not sure what that says about the locals.

Roy

 

[dc]

LOL, that surprise factor is the worst! My little N. Oerstedii came out and smacked the syringe I was using to kalk Aiptasia.

 

[Python73]

My N. Wennerae is respectful of me when I clean the front of his 6g, but if I come near where he is watching me respect goes bye bye. Mine will hit ANYTHING that comes close while he is in a burrow or cave, but seldom strikes while walking about the sandbed. He picks up small prey without hitting and retreats to a cave. Larger prey is attacked wherever it happens to be.

S !