Mantis Shrimp Mayhem

[TheMantisman]

Hello

Some may already know me (from ReefCentral) most likely don't know me.

However I am a Mantis Shrimp Publicist in the form of High Quality photos and High Quality videos of which I create through a lot of time, effort and expenses, I do not use mobile phones to photograph or film my mantis shrimp but high quality camera equipment that I have purchased to specifically capture mantis shrimp in all the ways I possibly can.

It's my intent to keep all my photos / videos uploads to a specific area, a.k.a this particular thread/post itself to make it easy for anyone interested in browsing will have it all neatly in an easy to find location.

Just curious if the fine people of this small 'Invert' group within this forum would be interested in myself posting my photo and video creations specifically and solely of Mantis Shrimp?

Below are a couple of samples of my most recent works, I hope to find a friendly and accommodating community here to share my hard works with!

 

[chefjpaul]

Welcome.
Great stuff, do share more!

 

[TheMantisman]

Welcome.
Great stuff, do share more!

Thanks for responding!

I work with mantis shrimp everyday so there is always something to share nigh on everyday

 

[Holy_makerel]

Please share more! I love these guys

Beautiful photo too! What camera/lens are you using?

 

[TheMantisman]

Please share more! I love these guys

Beautiful photo too! What camera/lens are you using?

Thanks for the response I really love these guys to and have worked with them since 2006.

I'm using a PLETHORA of camera equipment the photo however was taken on a NikonD810 with a 105mm Nikon Macro Lens, but that is just mere "icing" in the totality of all the equipment I have to capture these creatures on camera, I have even designed their aquariums around photography & filming (whilst making sure they still get all they need to be happy and healthy).

 

[chris85]

Please go on!!! I have been trying to collect one locally from the wild myself, but all I have come up with a pistol shrimp!!

 

[TheMantisman]

Please go on!!! I have been trying to collect one locally from the wild myself, but all I have come up with a pistol shrimp!!

I'm setup overseas in Indonesia and I am quite lucky not only is my house on a beach here but the beach has a very healthy reef and the most common mantis shrimp species on this reef is the Peacock Mantis Shrimp.

I have 6 Peacock mantis shrimp currently and all of them were caught from the reef in front of my house here, sometimes I employ the local villagers to catch them for me but that turned out to be a "bad" idea, I can only house 6 peacock mantis shrimp and within 24hours over half a dozen local villagers came to me with often 2-3 Peacock Mantis Shrimp, so I have released a lot more than I actually have but I have kept the biggest / nicest 6 that I have had pass through my hands.

 

[chris85]

Thats awesome I live on the texas gulf coast on the beach(galveston island). We don't have any peacock mantis, but we do have a few species!! Any recommendations on where or how(what to look for, pile of shell, odd shape hole) to find them inshore? The closest reef is above forty miles offshore and I don't have a boat, but it is a very healthy reef also(Flower gardens national marine preserve)

 

[TheMantisman]

Another Photo & Video sample

 

[TheMantisman]

Thats awesome I live on the texas gulf coast on the beach(galveston island). We don't have any peacock mantis, but we do have a few species!! Any recommendations on where or how(what to look for, pile of shell, odd shape hole) to find them inshore? The closest reef is above forty miles offshore and I don't have a boat, but it is a very healthy reef also(Flower gardens national marine preserve)

Typically for Peacocks I often catch them as they are out and about foraging because they seem to be in and out of their burrows 50% of the time.

Can't say I have really targeted the smaller species of mantis shrimp as they don't particularly interest me, smaller species are more difficult to photograph & film so I tend to stick to species/individuals over 6inchs long.

Having said that the smaller species are always found in Live Rock at LFS neogonodactyloids would likely be the most common from your part of the world I suspect so if you have a LFS maybe just let them know your after one?

 

[chris85]

Thanks for the info!! Not really interested in getting one from the store I like to catch my inhabitants when possible. I feel they are healthier and it is a hobby for me.

I just realized I have watched almost all your videos!!! I looked at your youtube page on your video link. Thanks I have enjoyed them very much keep them coming!!

Dark-banded mantis shrimp

Lysiosquilla scabricauda

Family Lysiosquillidae - mantis shrimps (crustacea)

Invert PDF


Select a category

Offshore mantis shrimp
Squilla chydaea
Squillidae - mantis shrimps

Mantis shrimp
Squilla empusa
Squillidae - mantis shrimps (crustacea)


Lesser mantis shrimp
Gibbesia neglecta
Squillidae - mantis shrimps (crustacea

 

[TheMantisman]

Thanks for the info!! Not really interested in getting one from the store I like to catch my inhabitants when possible. I feel they are healthier and it is a hobby for me.

I just realized I have watched almost all your videos!!! I looked at your youtube page on your video link. Thanks I have enjoyed them very much keep them coming!!

Well I'll be doing more filming tonight which should get you excited I tend to feed the mantis shrimp every 5-7days it keeps them active and interactive and reduces the chances of them becoming lazy or at worse...sulking (because they are quite emotional little buggers).

 

[TheMantisman]

Here is another photo and video sample for all to see

The photo of this female is of one of the nicest patterns I've ever seen on a Peacock Mantis before very vivid, you'll notice on the previous photo before this one that the individual has a more solid green overall coloration but this one has a very nice pattern all the way down the abdomen.

 

[chris85]

They are beautiful creatures!! Have you ever photographed them under ultra violet light? If I am not mistaken that is one way they communicate with each other.

 

[TheMantisman]

They are beautiful creatures!! Have you ever photographed them under ultra violet light? If I am not mistaken that is one way they communicate with each other.

No I haven't done this yet but it is something that I am likely to do soon, they do have a secret communication method that they use with light being the only organisms that can see polarized and circular polarized light they communicate with it.

Right now I am focused on...
- High Quality Photos.
- High Quality Videos.
- High Quality Video Perspectives.
- High Quality Video Audio.
- High Quality Slow Motion Videos.

My 'secret' weapon is a VERY expensive dedicated slow motion camera, it doesn't even look like a camera to be honest but more of this heavy metal box with a lens attached but it can film up to 100,000FPS! Typically I record my High Definition videos at 60FPS because it creates a smoother image than the standard 24FPS.

 

[AlexG]

I have always kept a mantis in my system and I plan add one into my new system. I look forward to watching your videos.

 

[Waters]

Very cool pictures and videos.....do you photograph anything else or just Mantis Shrimp?

 

[Holy_makerel]

Thanks for the response I really love these guys to and have worked with them since 2006.

I'm using a PLETHORA of camera equipment the photo however was taken on a NikonD810 with a 105mm Nikon Macro Lens, but that is just mere "icing" in the totality of all the equipment I have to capture these creatures on camera, I have even designed their aquariums around photography & filming (whilst making sure they still get all they need to be happy and healthy).

Nice! I wish i would have sprung for the full frame sensor. I shoot with a d7200, a tokina 100mm macro, and a sigma 50mm macro. I have a biocube setup right now and the curved glass is such a headache. I had to buy portholes that fit over the lens for top down shots. Getting ready to setup a 93 cube and can't wait to dig into photography with that tank.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Typically for Peacocks I often catch them as they are out and about foraging because they seem to be in and out of their burrows 50% of the time.

Can't say I have really targeted the smaller species of mantis shrimp as they don't particularly interest me, smaller species are more difficult to photograph & film so I tend to stick to species/individuals over 6inchs long.

Having said that the smaller species are always found in Live Rock at LFS neogonodactyloids would likely be the most common from your part of the world I suspect so if you have a LFS maybe just let them know your after one?

Im curious what kind of permits are needed to catch a mantis shrimp. Is it just a normal fishing permit or is another permit type needed?

 

[chris85]

Im curious what kind of permits are needed to catch a mantis shrimp. Is it just a normal fishing permit or is another permit type needed?

Just a saltwater fishing license in texas to keep for recreational purposes.