Looking for a small species

[yellowJZ]

I am completely new to saltwater aquariums in general and have but have become bored with freshwater fish.

I have a glass 15 gallon tank and was thinking about raising a small mantis shrimp in it. I heard that mantis shrimp can break through glass aquariums. I was wondering if anyone has actually had this happen to them before. I was also wondering if this only applies the smashers. Can a spearer break through glass?

Currently I have a $300 dollar budget (maximum) I would really like to know how to get started.

 

[TrappedMetal]

No spearing mantis cannot break glass, only the largest peacocks or possibly g. chiragras can do this as far as i know.

 

[Giga]

6"+ peacock are known and so are G chiragras are know becuase they are insanly strong. Just put a sheet of acrylic on the bottom to prevent the mantis from hitting it and you'll be fine. Also a broken tank is like getting struck by lightning it's pretty rare

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

it's all urban legend, SEARCH and if you can actually find reference to it actually having happend, report back. i've been searching and can find no actual information of your average size mantis breaking the glass

 

[gholland]

A large spearer CAN break glass as can a large peacock or chiragra... but it is not common.

 

[TrappedMetal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13069227#post13069227 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by VacavilleFC3S
it's all urban legend, SEARCH and if you can actually find reference to it actually having happend, report back. i've been searching and can find no actual information of your average size mantis breaking the glass

Roy Caldwell's word is good enough for me, it is documented however in the Fastest Claw in the West. I have also seen a video of how Roy tests if mantis can tell colours - he gave the mantis 3 plastic cubes - one of them has a glass front with shrimp inside - the mantis smashed the glass to get the shrimp (and eventually ignored the other colours i think?) - i think this is conclusive enough, it being on video.
Also nobody said the average sized mantis - it was specified large peacocks and chiragras. Your searching obviously wasnt good enough as there are many threads on this forum.