Odontodactylus scyallarus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Southern Japan, and south to Australia and Hawaii.

Size: 7 inches (18 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits bottom lagoon rubble areas.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade and sometimes sold as a species for a small system specifically designed for one such creature.

This Peacock Mantis is a brilliantly colored shrimp.

If maintained by itself in a small 30 - 50 gallon aquarium with sufficient bottom sand and live rock for hiding places, it makes for an extremely interesting display. Provide enough loose rubble and/or caves. If not happy with its surroundings, it will rearrange the contents of the 'entire' aquarium to suit itself.

Requires daily feedings with pieces of meaty foodstuffs.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Malacostraca

Order: Stomatopoda

Family: Odontodactylidae

Genus: Odontodactylus

FYI: Keep your fingers away from this creature!