THIS IS YOUR MYTH BUSTERS GEM!!!!

[VLDesign]

The Myth: Mantis Shrimps such as the Peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) are supposed to have the ability to break "Standard Aquarium glass" yet oddly enough there is no actual proof of this. The only video source of them breaking glass (Stanard window glass) is in a 1985 film called 'Fastest claw in the west'

The documentary opened with shots of a Peacock mantis shrimp breaking several glass panes. It did it in slow motion, so you could actually watch the raptorial appendages unfurl and strike the glass, which promptly disintegrated under the impact.

While breaking glass panes is one thing breaking aquarium glass is an entirely different task.

The Questions: Can a mantis shrimp break the glass of a standard 20 gallon tank? A standard 55 gallon tank? A standard 220 gallon tank?

Initial thoughts: While a mantis is fully capable of breaking standard 1/8" glass panes for windows I highly doubt that it could break standard aquarium glass. While this might be something that is "technically possible" I have serious doubts that it could or has ever been proven.

 

[koop171]

can u find a link to said vid ? that would help the cause. not knowing ANYTHING about shrimp is said shrimp something that u can come arcoss and own or is it one of those things that no one has or can get.

either way i like the direction thins is going

a true myth based on fact (if we can find the vid)

 

[ewurm]

I have heard of smashers breaking glass, but have never seen it. I would like to!

 

[VLDesign]

The vid is nowhere online. Public library is the best bet on this one.... I personally have had several of these Peacock Mantis Shrimps and I seriously doubt they have the power to break aquarium glass.

 

[cassharper]

can u find a link to said vid ? that would help the cause. not knowing ANYTHING about shrimp is said shrimp something that u can come arcoss and own or is it one of those things that no one has or can get.

either way i like the direction thins is going

a true myth based on fact (if we can find the vid)

1) I think they are fairly common, I see them at my LFS quite often

2) Go on youtube and search for the shrimp. I can't find the full vid, but I have seen tons of vids with clips from it in there.

 

[koop171]

ok so i did a little search on this and here is what i found

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/aprilholladay/2006-01-09-shrimp_x.htm

http://blueboard.com/mantis/sighting/report1.htm
this one seems to be missing the pics but still more reading to back up the fact that they CAN break aquarium glass

that seems to be the best i can find right now i did a search on youtube and could not come up with any vids of them breaking glass. I also just searched google for vids and didn't find anything there.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Nice idea!

 

[smpage]

so with links and video we can pretty much call this myth busted. It would be cool to see how thick of glass it could break through though.

 

[koop171]

how can we call it busted when i haven't been able to find a vid of them breaking glass but i can find alot of written proof that it can happen.

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

I actually like this myth too. However im sure some idiot will come out and claim to *Bust* this myth within a matter of minutes using nothing more than their lack of common sense and misguided understanding of physics.