My wife thinks I am dumb...

[Neo-Fight]

for wanting to let my new N. Wennerae, Stan attack me. I figure, if I am going to be sticking my hand in there to clean the tank, I can either A) Be constantly afraid of getting whacked, or B) let him hit me and find out if there is really anything to be afraid of.
Stan is about 2" btw, and is pretty much a sissy anyway... just hides all day.
What do you guys think?

Jason

 

[DensityMan]

I think your wife's probably the type that's right most of the time, no?...









LOL

 

[masterswimmer]

I think your wife's probably the type that's right most of the time, no?...




LOL

Not to mention the sensible one of the two of you.

Let me guess.......You are the guy who's friend comes to your house with a new car to show you. You say, 'cool, lets go for a ride. We can check out to see if your new airbags work!!'

 

[Gonodactylus]

I suppose there is something to be said for basic curiosity, but why one would want to experience pain and the possible risk of infection is beyond me. Take it from someone who handles stomatopods every day, even the strike of a two inch N. wennerae hurts and will occasionally draw blood. While it is no worse than pricking your finger for a blood test, it does sting.

So what do you have to prove - that you are not going to roll on the floor in pain from the attack of a two inch shrimp? You can proudly say to your wife, honey, come and watch me test my manhood against a two inch shrimp. If you let out a howl, you are going to look like a whimp. If the shrimp hits you and you take it like a man, the shrimp is a whimp - which is what a two inch N. wennerae is. Now if you really want to take the challenge, I have a few 12 inch Hemisquilla that might be up to the test.

Roy

 

[Neo-Fight]

hmmm I am getting the feeling that it may not be such a good idea to willingly suffer a strike from a mantis... I wish someone would just come out and say it :lol:

I didn't mean to raise anyone's hackles, just being silly - and no, I am not trying to prove my manliness - if I was, I wouldn't have admitted to living in fear of my mantis in the first place.

But since I have the attention of an expert... when I said he was a sissy, I meant that he never comes out where I can see him. Can anything be done to entice him into the open more often?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Some times it is possible to condition an animal to come out to feed from a feeding stick if that is the only opportunity for a meal.

Roy

 

[Uriel]

Now if you really want to take the challenge, I have a few 12 inch Hemisquilla that might be up to the test.

Roy

So, all I have to do to get a look at your Stomatopods os to stick my hand in a tank? Ack!!!

Dang-iit, Dr. Roy, you should offer tours (A serious, though remote happening, I'm sure, but one can try).

-Ron

 

[dwarfatize]

I am curious too to see the lab that you work in Roy. Maybe you would like to give a talk to BAR on mantis shrimps one day?

 

[goldberg]

I will say that while i've adjusted things in my tank, my two inch mantis has surprised me with a whack a few times. and while it doesn't really hurt, it's just a natural reaction that when surprised, you jerk your hand away as quick as possible. Resulting in water being flung everywhere and leaving the floor all wet.

 

[Gonodactylus]

A strike with a closed dactyl by a smahers usually does not cause much damage until you get to about 3 inch animals. What you are missing is a stabbing strike with the dactyl open. Even a two inch smasher can drive the dactyl tips into your finger all the way to the bone. There is a lot of hematoma causing it to hurt for several minutes, there is a risk of infection, and sometimes the dactyls are stuck into your finger and are torn off the stomatopod. More than once I"ve been struck and in the process of rapidly withdrawing my hand, flung the animal across the room minus its raptorial appendages.

Roy

 

[km133688]

Dont' listen to these guys.

I have always suspected that there are those blessed with a neurologic disorder of some kind which drives them to experience life without regard for their own personal saftey, being incapable of truely appreciating the ramifications of their actions on themselves. I am envious.

Please, by all means, let the little bugger stick you a good one.

Your wife is clearly the smarter of the two of you, but that can't change the fact that you are the one with the ba**s in the family, and sometimes it is necessary to reafirm this. We are after all, men; and being men are forced to on occassion do stupid things to remind others of our manliness.