Mantis Shrimp

Spot-tail Mantis Shrimp: The Spearer Predator

The Spot-tail Mantis Shrimp (Squilla mantis), also known by its regional names Canocchia or Pacchero, is a large, highly specialized crustacean belonging to the order Stomatopoda. Unlike the brightly colored 'smasher' mantis shrimp often seen in the hobby, S. mantis is a 'spearer' type, characterized by a flattened, segmented body and long, spiny, raptorial appendages designed to impale soft-bodied prey.

Native to the shallow coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic, this species is typically a drabber color, often pale green or translucent with a distinctive dark spot (ocellus) on its tail or telson. It is an ambush predator that spends the vast majority of its time hidden within elaborate, U-shaped burrows excavated in deep mud or fine sand.

The Spot-tail Mantis Shrimp is an opportunistic, territorial, and extremely effective hunter. It should never be kept in a reef or mixed-species tank, as it will systematically prey on and kill fish, shrimp, crabs, and other invertebrates. It must be housed in a species-specific aquarium with secure, non-glass walls (or very thick glass) to prevent potential damage from its powerful strike.

Diet & Compatibility:

• Diet: This mantis shrimp is a dedicated Carnivore / Opportunistic Predator. In the wild, it feeds on smaller crustaceans, fish, worms (polychaetes), and mollusks (bivalves and squid).
• Feeding: In captivity, feed it 3-4 times per week with meaty foods, such as frozen shrimp, thawed clams, squid, or pieces of fish. They are intelligent and can be target-fed using tongs, which is safer for the keeper. Providing food with a hard outer shell (like whole frozen shrimp) allows them to exercise their hunting skills.
• Reef Compatibility: No. Mantis shrimps are completely incompatible with nearly all other aquarium life, including corals, fish, and invertebrates. They are notorious for killing tank mates and can destabilize rockwork.
• Temperament: Extremely Aggressive and Predatory. They are highly territorial and must be kept singly. Their "spearing" strike is powerful and fast enough to severely injure human fingers (earning them the nickname "thumb splitters"). Extreme caution and protective gloves are mandatory when performing tank maintenance.
• Tank Requirements: Requires a minimum 30-gallon species-only tank with a deep substrate (at least 6-8 inches) of fine sand mixed with rubble to allow for proper burrow construction. PVC pipes can be buried in the substrate to provide a pre-made, stable home. The tank should have thick acrylic or tempered glass walls and a tight-fitting lid (as they are known jumpers).

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Squilla mantis
• Primary Common Name: Spot-tail Mantis Shrimp
• Other Common Names: Canocchia, Pacchero, Sea Locust, Thumb Splitter
• Origin: Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Atlantic Ocean
• Max Size: 7-10 inches (18-25 cm)
• Temperament: Extremely Aggressive / Predatory (Spearer)
• Diet: Carnivore (Crustaceans, fish, worms)
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons (Species-Only)
• Reef Compatibility: No (Will destroy tank life)
• Danger: Highly Dangerous (Spearing appendage can cause deep lacerations)