Stomatopod swimming/lifting strength...

RogueCorps

New member
We moved our 4" O.S. into her new 15 gallon last night and after some sand moving, she's started to move rubble in and around her new den. To our surprise she picked up a rock the size of a golfball and swam it up into the water column, then down into her den! The rock was slightly porous but still almost half her size! It was pretty cool seeing her take off like a Sikorsky sky crane helicopter with a heavy payload. :) I know that studies have been done on smasher's striking power, but what about their brute swimming strength?

In a related subject, I always have to roll my eyes at mantis-trap suggestions saying that they are not able to climb out of a smooth walled container. From what I've observed, they seem more formidable in short distances than most fish!

Such a cool pet... :cool:

-Rogue
 
That is pretty cool, gotta appreciate the pure strength if nothing else. I would also have to agree with you about the bottle method, doesnt work! I've got one I'd give anything to catch :rolleyes:
 
There are no published studies that I know of regarding swimming or lifting. Using high speed video, we have recorded swimming bursts in Odontodactylus brevirostris from Hawaii at nearly a meter a second. This puts it into the same league with squid and small fish. What I find remarkable is that the animal can be swimming at top speed and dive head first into its cavity entrance without even touching the edge even when the entrance is barely larger in diameter than the stomatopod. We know that they use the antennal scales to help steer, but that is only part of the story.

Roy
 
Now I suppose the next step would be to make some little mantis "dumbells" of varying weights, then train her to swim them up a few reps... :)

So far, all we've been able to condition her to do is come out of her den for food after a couple of "taps" on the tank stand.

-Rogue :)
 
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