What is the biggest Mantis Shrimp that any of you have either caught or seen that came from our waters here in South Carolina? We caught one last night that is about 5"- 6" long and about 1" wide. It’s the biggest one that I’ve ever seen come out of our waters.
Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013
That’s a monster. I’d love to have a small aquarium set up for one they’re pretty intelligent.
I caught one that was nearly that big out at Pitt st once, but definitely not THAT big. You found a beast!!
… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
They get much larger than that. I’ve caught them over 12" long. A seafood market in Thunderbolt years ago had one in a gallon jar, I reckon it was pickled, counter decoration, but it was as long as a gallon mason jar is tall and sort of folded in there. Had to be 16"
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
pretty sure those things will sting the shat outta ya
They’re delicious grilled with lemon butter or garlic butter. I get them every time I got to Italy for work. 4 about that size on a bed of pasta with a few clams rimming the bowl
Boat drinks, Waitress I need 2 more boat drinks!
Great bait too
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quote:Yes they will. I've caught many of them over my years of shrimping, just never seen one this big around here. My nephew has a saltwater aquarium and is going to try and keep him alive. I'll be curious as to how that will work out. I knew that they are good eating, but 1 doesn't make much of a meal even that big.
Originally posted by PeaPodpretty sure those things will sting the shat outta ya
Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013
I’ve heard of many instances of them breaking the glass on aquariums. Not recommended for home aquariums. Those things can hurt you! Google it. Plus they will kill everything else in the tank. Mean critters!
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
I have pulled ones up to 10" long out of the stomachs of slot reds. I have heard they are delicious as well. A shrimper friend of mine calls them “shrimp mannies”, and if they catch enough for a meal in the nets, it’s game on for a feast.
quote:
Originally posted by Bowhunter My nephew has a saltwater aquarium and is going to try and keep him alive. I'll be curious as to how that will work out. I knew that they are good eating, but 1 doesn't make much of a meal even that big.
They actually make very good pets, they are among the most intelligent invertebrates out there. Far more than you’d expect.
There are whole forums and subcultures of aquarium keepers devoted just to keeping the various species of mantis that are out there.
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker LarryI’ve heard of many instances of them breaking the glass on aquariums. Not recommended for home aquariums. Those things can hurt you! Google it. Plus they will kill everything else in the tank. Mean critters!
This is mostly urban legend, and even the true stories out there can only be attributed to the types of mantis known to hobbyists as “mashers” because the “weaponry” they have are like clubs, and literally punch (or shockwave) their prey.
The ones we have around here (at least, all the one’s I’ve seen and read about) are the sort that have piercing lances, and thus not going to carry the mass behind their punch.
Now, you’re 100% right about them killing other animals. I think sea anemones, corals, and perhaps some other similar creatures would be fine, but any shrimp, crab, or fish is going to end up sliced and diced.
… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
quote:
This is mostly urban legend,
My next door neighbor ain’t urban legend, it was 100 gallons of salt water on his carpet 
Good pets? My Golden is a good pet, don’t want no crazy shrimp. Boil it in a pot 
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
swimp mammy!
Ha,ha,ha…that’s funny, Larry.
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larryquote:
This is mostly urban legend,
My next door neighbor ain’t urban legend, it was 100 gallons of salt water on his carpet
Good pets? My Golden is a good pet, don’t want no crazy shrimp. Boil it in a pot
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
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Yamaha 250 hp SHO
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Ate em before. They were good flavor but not worth the time and effort to eat. The meat in the tail is not like a lobster in a single continuous mass that goes along the tail…They have “compartments” of meat perpendicular to their body that must be “discovered” one by one. Aint’ worth my time. My opinion.
Now that was funny.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
That was great. My experience with them too. Stay very afraid
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
OK. An update to the story of our Mantis Shrimp. My nephew named him “Bubba”, put him in his aquarium, and he is alive and doing well in his new home. He was actually just over 6" long. Just like in the video, my nephew says that Bubba likes to hide.
Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013
Does his aquarium have anything else living in it? Because it won’t be long if so.