Clown Mantis Shrimp

Quick facts

Handling caution: Powerful raptorial smashing claw can break skin, crush fingers, or shatter aquarium glass; not venomous

Identity

Also known as

Peacock Mantis Shrimp; Harlequin Mantis Shrimp

Synonyms

Odontodactylus scyllarus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indo-Pacific, East Africa, Red Sea, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Guam, Japan

Habitat

Sandy, muddy, and rubble zones of coral reef slopes, building U-shaped burrows in compacted sand or rubble at depths of roughly 3-40 meters

Sourcing

Wild-caught

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Expert Only

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

3 – 7 in (7.6 – 18 cm)

Lifespan

3 – 6 yrs

Min tank

40 gal (151 L)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Bottom

Water

Temperature

72 – 78 °F (22 – 26 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.023 – 1.025 SG

Flow

Low-Moderate

Behavior & compatibility

Social

Solitary

Aggression to own kind

High

Active

Daytime

Reef safe

No

Invert safe

No

Shrimp safe

No

Clean-up role

Pest control

Population boom risk

Low

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Carnivore

Foods

Frozen, Live, Freeze-dried

Breeding type

Broadcast spawner

Breeding difficulty

Not bred in captivity

Sexing

Not reliably distinguished externally; females may appear slightly larger and are noted by egg mass carriage when gravid

Target feeding

Beneficial

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Care guide

Overview

Wild-caught throughout the Indo-Pacific, this stomatopod shows a green body outlined in red shell segments with large blue- or green-rimmed eyes. A solitary burrower, it demands a species-only tank with deep sand, rubble, and stable rock for its home. Its smashing claws crush hard-shelled prey and can crack thin glass, so expert keepers only.

Care

This is a solitary, territorial stomatopod that must be kept alone in a species-only tank, never with fish, crustaceans, or other invertebrates, all of which it will hunt and kill. Provide a deep sand bed mixed with coral rubble so it can build or occupy a burrow, along with sturdy live rock arranged so it cannot collapse. A tightly fitted lid is essential since this animal is a capable escape artist, and thick glass or acrylic is strongly recommended because its strike can crack standard aquarium panes.

Feeding

Feed a varied carnivorous diet of hard-shelled prey such as snails, crabs, clams, and unshelled shrimp, along with occasional whole fish, to keep the smashing club conditioned and the animal properly nourished. Live feeder crabs or snails offered periodically encourage natural hunting behavior, while frozen and freeze-dried meaty foods can supplement the diet between live feedings. Enrichment with vitamin or omega-3 soaked foods helps prevent malnutrition, which is a common issue in long-term captive specimens.

Tank mates

No tankmates of any kind are advisable; this species will smash and consume fish, crabs, shrimp, and snails introduced to its aquarium, and even hard corals or clam shells can be damaged by stray strikes. Only very large, fast fish might occasionally coexist briefly, but this is risky and not recommended for a stable long-term setup. A dedicated species tank is the only reliable option for keeping this animal safely.

Breeding

Captive breeding is rarely attempted and considered very difficult, since introducing a male and female risks lethal aggression if the female is not receptive. Gravid females carry a visible mass of eggs and require a large tank with separate territories and careful monitoring during any pairing attempt. Successful rearing of larvae in home aquaria has not been well documented in the hobby.

Health

Malnutrition is a recurring problem in captivity if the diet lacks variety or enrichment, so rotating hard-shelled prey with vitamin-enriched foods helps maintain long-term health. Molting is a vulnerable period during which the animal should not be disturbed and extra hiding space should be available. Copper-based medications are highly toxic to this species and must never be used in its aquarium.

Sources

1. Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) – Complete Care Guide | Reeflings
2. Odontodactylus scyllarus (Peacock mantis shrimp)
3. Clown Mantis Shrimp – LiveAquaria
4. Odontodactylus scyllarus — Out of Stock | UK