While investigating the mantis shrimp, we found mixed opinions about these marine animals. Some aquarists find them interesting and enjoyable pets, while others see them as a threat to any aquarium. Let’s explore their characteristics and nature so you can decide if you want to keep one.

What Are Mantis Shrimp?

Found in tropical waters worldwide, they belong to the phylum Crustacea, class Malacostraca, subclass Hoplocarida (meaning “armed shrimp”), and order Stomatopoda. Often referred to as stomatopods, they come in a wide variety of species. As carnivores, they will eat almost anything, making them expert hunters. They are solitary animals, and unless you have a large tank, they should be kept alone.

Mantis shrimp have two hunting styles: “spearers” and “smashers.” “Spearers” use a spear-like claw to silently stab soft-bodied prey, while “smashers” use a powerful, club-like claw to break or crush hard-bodied prey. “Smashers” have a strike force comparable to a .22-caliber bullet and are known as “thumb splitters.” It’s rumored that their strength is enough to crack aquarium glass!

Mantis shrimp are burrowers and create tubes or cavities in sand, rubble, or mud. They adapt to living in holes, cracks, or crevices in rocks, and can reside in snail or hermit crab shells. A mantis shrimp might unexpectedly appear in your tank by hiding on a live rock due to their excellent hiding skills!

Some mantis shrimp species can grow up to 12 inches long. A notable six- to eight-inch black and white striped species can be found on the mudflats in Hawaii, which should not be underestimated.

Common Sign of a Mantis Shrimp

When fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates start mysteriously disappearing from your aquarium, many aquarists suspect a mantis shrimp. While this is a key sign of their presence, other marine animals could also be the cause. Consider a mantis shrimp as a suspect, particularly if fish are disappearing, but thoroughly investigate other possibilities before jumping to conclusions.

Popping Noises: Mantis Shrimp vs. Pistol Shrimp

Some believe clicking, popping, or snapping sounds from your tank indicate a mantis shrimp. Others argue these noises suggest a pistol shrimp instead.

If you have a pistol shrimp, suspect it for the sounds. However, pistol shrimp are unlikely to attack or kill fish but may punch holes in hermit crab, snail, and other mollusk shells to feed.

As natural burrowers, mantis shrimp create tubes or cavities in sand, rubble, or mud. Look for holes or tunnels with mounds of sand or rubble outside them. Pistol shrimp also exhibit this behavior, so if you spot such a hole, dim the tank lights and observe what emerges.

Mantis Shrimp: Pest vs. Pet

In the aquarium hobby, mantis shrimp are often regarded as monstrous creatures. This reputation is understandable for aquarists who have lost valuable specimens to them.

However, if a mantis shrimp accidentally enters your tank with new live rock, it’s not surprising that it behaves as a carnivore. While mantis shrimp might seem monstrous, they are simply doing what they naturally do: hunt.

Some aquarists love mantis shrimp for their hardiness and ease of care. They aren’t picky about tank conditions, are easy to feed, and are affordable to maintain. However, this doesn’t mean their environment can be neglected. Proper care is essential, as with any marine animal.

Adding a mantis shrimp to a fish-only or reef tank is generally not advisable. Their aggressive and territorial nature means they are best kept alone, although several can coexist in a very large tank with ample space.

How to Remove Mantis Shrimp from an Aquarium

Removing a mantis shrimp is challenging and requires patience. If one method doesn’t succeed, try another.

• Force it out with a stream of water. If the shrimp resides in live rock, wait for it to enter its hole. Place the rock in a bucket with saltwater. Use a turkey baster or syringe to squirt fresh water into the hole. The shrimp should eventually emerge.
• Dunk the rock in fresh water. Dunk the rock in fresh water.** Submerge the rock in a bucket of fresh water, but use this method only if you’re not concerned about losing other marine life on the rock.
• Wait it out. Remove the live rock and place it in a dry container or sink. With patience, the mantis shrimp may emerge, but this method often requires persistence as the shrimp can be just as patient.
• Catch it at night with a net. Mantis shrimp are nocturnal, so they’re best caught at night in a dark tank. Wait patiently and quickly scoop them with a net when they’re away from their burrow.
• Use natural predators like triggerfishes to combat them.
• Buy or make a trap. Many commercial traps are available for mantis shrimp, or you can build one yourself.

What to Do With a Mantis Shrimp

Once you remove the mantis shrimp from your tank, you have several options.

• Keep it and provide it with a tank of its own to live in.
• Ask a friend if they want it. Some aquarists enjoy keeping mantis shrimp.
• See if a local fish store with take it. They might even pay you for it.
• Contact a public aquarium in your area.  They might be interested in having it.

Whether you’re a seasoned diver or a beginner, scuba diving provides a unique opportunity to see and connect with nature in a way few other travel experiences can. There’s something transformative about slipping beneath the surface of the sea. You can glide through vibrant coral gardens, encounter elusive marine life, or dive into historic shipwrecks. Surrounded by coral palaces and flickering schools of fish, time feels suspended—and with it, the weight of the everyday.

From Indonesia to California, there are so many incredible scuba diving sites to visit around the world. Filled with complex and fragile coral reefs, swaying kelp forests, and a serene silence, the science speaks for itself: Diving has been shown to reduce stress, sharpen focus, and deepen our emotional connection to nature. The rhythmic breathing required in diving also triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you feel calmer and more focused.

When it comes to traveling for the best scuba diving in the world, there’s no time to waste. Many of the world’s best dive sites are vanishing. Rising ocean temperatures, coral bleaching, and acidification—driven by climate change—are transforming reefs at an alarming pace. According to the IPCC, we could lose up to 90% of the world’s coral reefs if global temperatures rise just 1.5°C (to which we are closer to than some might think). While it’s true that some iconic dive sites have already faced massive bleaching, there are still some vibrant and colorful sites waiting to be experienced.

With the help of travel expert India Wynne-Roberts, the co-founder and director of Reefscape Travel, I’ve rounded up the world’s most extraordinary dive sites and how to best experience them—not only for their beauty, but for their meaning. Here are 17 of the best diving sites in the world.

FAQ:

Pastel red and white engorged soft coral and large gorgonian on a wall near the Wakatobi Resort, Banda Sea.

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Banda Sea, Indonesia

Tucked far from the tourist trails, the Banda Sea offers a different kind of diving—remote, raw, and utterly original. “This is an amazing part of Indonesia with few tourists, pristine coral reefs, and unforgettable marine encounters,” says Wynne-Roberts, who recommends it especially for divers who want to venture past the popular Komodo or Raja Ampat. From scalloped hammerhead schools to macro treasures like the psychedelic frogfish and blue-ringed octopus, biodiversity here runs deep. Accessible only by LiveAboard, the Banda Sea rewards those who make the journey. “One of the most special things about this area,” Wynne-Roberts notes, “is that there are so few boats—you often have the sites completely to yourself.” But she also cautions: “It’s important to choose a reputable liveaboard with experience in the region. These seasons are short, and local knowledge is everything.”

One of its most fascinating spectacles takes place at Manuk Island, where banded sea kraits and bluefin trevallies hunt together—a rare symbiotic relationship most recently documented by the BBC. “It’s quite extraordinary,” Wynne-Roberts says, “and unlike anything most divers have ever seen.”

When to visit: The prime diving windows are April to May and September to November, though hammerhead sightings are best in the latter.

Scuba diving level: Banda Sea sites are generally best for intermediate to advanced divers. However, many of the dive sites can be enjoyed by all levels. It’s best to speak to an on-site diving expert to gauge which experience is best for you.

Where to stay:

• For a seafront hotel with colonial architecture (and proximity to the dive pros): The Maulana
• For wellness and adventure: Moro Ma Doto

Bonaire National Marine Park

Renowned as the world’s shore-diving capital, Bonaire is a dream for independent divers with over 85 marked dive sites accessible directly from land. The entire coastline is protected by the Bonaire National Marine Park, preserving vibrant coral walls, curious turtles, frogfish, and fields of elkhorn coral. Divers of all levels can explore reef slopes right off the beach, guided by yellow rocks marking the way. A Marine Park entry tag is mandatory—$45 USD annually for divers—which directly funds conservation efforts and must be displayed before diving. With near-perfect conditions year-round, this might just be free diving at its best. (Not to mention, for those based in the US, it’s a shorter flight than some other destinations on this list.)

When to visit: September through November brings the calmest seas and fewest crowds, with warm, crystal-clear water.

Scuba diving level: While levels depend on the dive, the park’s reefs and walls are suitable for beginners, while deeper sites and wreck dives cater to experienced divers.

Where to stay:

Channel Islands, California

In California, the Channel Islands are a prime location for divers seeking untouched ecosystems. The islands are famous for their thriving kelp forests, where divers can encounter sea lions, giant sea bass, and a variety of sharks. The waters here are rich in biodiversity, from yellowtail to white sharks. The remoteness of the islands means that divers can often experience these marine wonders in peace, with fewer crowds. It’s a sanctuary for marine life, thanks to the protection of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. For those planning to book a hotel, note that there are no services or lodging on the islands themselves. The National Park Service (NPS) says you can either opt in for primitive camping on all five islands—or, for something more comfortable, book lodging in Ventura, Oxnard, or Santa Barbara.

When to visit: Dive from June to October for the best conditions, when visibility is high and water temperatures hover around 60°F to 70°F. (This period also aligns with the highest chances of encountering large pelagic species.)

Scuba diving level: Dives in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary can be experienced by divers of all levels.

Where to stay:

Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Cocos Island is an underwater paradise in Costa Rica for divers looking to encounter some of the ocean’s biggest residents. Known for its whale shark sightings and massive schools of hammerhead sharks, the island is part of the Cocos Island National Park, which limits the number of visitors per year to preserve its pristine environment. Divers can expect to explore underwater cliffs and walls teeming with mantas, tuna, and various species of sharks. Given its isolated location, the island offers some of the best big fish diving in the world—however, plan for strong currents and cold water as they often come in waves—pun intended. (Cocos Island is only accessible via LiveAboard diving trips. These boats sail from Puntarenas and travel overnight (from 32 to 36 hours) to reach the island.)

When to visit: The best time to visit is from June to November, when whale sharks migrate through the area, and water visibility is optimal, usually around 80 feet or more.