Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Odontodactylus scyllarus

It punches with clubs that move as fast as a bullet, hard enough to crack aquarium glass, and sees colours no human can imagine.

A predatory saltwater shrimp that grows to 15 cm, lives near the bottom and needs 24–28 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 120 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

15 cm (5.9 in)

Aquarium

120 L or bigger (32 US gal)

Temperament

Predator

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Carnivore

Wild home

Burrows in Indo-Pacific coral rubble

Good to know

• Eats invertebrates. Hunts shrimp, snails and crabs.
• Bottom crawler. Walks along the substrate.
• Shy. Stressed without plants, rocks or caves to hide in.

Tank mates

Good company: Banggai Cardinalfish, Copperband Butterflyfish, Coral Beauty, Foxface Rabbitfish, Green Chromis, Ocellaris Clownfish, Peppermint Angelfish, Regal Angelfish, Royal Gramma, Seahorse.

Will eat: Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Harlequin Shrimp, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp.

Eaten by: Clown Triggerfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Lantern Anglerfish, Lionfish, Porcupine Puffer, Snowflake Moray.

Eats the newborn fry of: Banggai Cardinalfish, Green Chromis, Neon Goby, Ocellaris Clownfish, Royal Gramma, Seahorse, Yellowtail Damselfish.

It gets along with every other species that doesn't eat it.

Colours

• Peacock mythic

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.