Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Care Summary

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp is not a community tank invertebrate; it is a solo predator that belongs in a dedicated species tank where its intelligence and hunting behavior can be appreciated safely. It will destroy snails, shrimp, small crabs, and any fish it can catch, and its smashing strike is powerful enough to crack standard aquarium glass, so acrylic tanks are strongly recommended. The challenge is containment: mantis shrimp are escape artists and will find any gap in a lid, requiring a fully sealed enclosure with no openings larger than their body width. Feed meaty whole prey items like snails, fiddler crabs, or small pieces of shrimp on feeding tongs two to three times per week, and watch it hunt; few animals in this hobby are as captivating to observe.