# Is there any sea creature in that could take on a Mantis Shrimp & win? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2008, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sea-creature-in-that-could-take-on-a-mantis-shrimp-win/454750 "2008-06-30T07:45:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sea-creature-in-that-could-take-on-a-mantis-shrimp-win/454750/1 "2008-06-30T07:45:40Z")
I’ve been watching some [Mantis Shrimp fight videos on Youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkv_30niM_A), and they seem pretty formidable. Is there any sea creature the same approx size and weight as a Mantis Shrimp that could take it on and win? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sea-creature-in-that-could-take-on-a-mantis-shrimp-win/454750/2 "2008-06-30T07:53:09Z")
I believe they do fall prey to Cephalopods such as cuttlefish and octopus, but those would be larger than the shrimp. I think the shrimp packs pretty much maximum ferocity for its size, so I don’t think it’s going to have any serious enemies of similar scale - except perhaps other mantis shrimps. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sea-creature-in-that-could-take-on-a-mantis-shrimp-win/454750/3 "2008-07-01T04:14:31Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] I believe they do fall prey to Cephalopods such as cuttlefish and octopus, but those would be larger than the shrimp. I think the shrimp packs pretty much maximum ferocity for its size, so I don’t think it’s going to have any serious enemies of similar scale - except perhaps other mantis shrimps. [/QUOTE] Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sea-creature-in-that-could-take-on-a-mantis-shrimp-win/454750/4 "2008-07-01T04:41:39Z")
Maybe the [pistol shrimp?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpheidae) Like the mantis shrimp, it can “snap” it’s claws to create a powerful shock wave. I suppose if he got off the first shot, he might be able to take the mantis out. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sea-creature-in-that-could-take-on-a-mantis-shrimp-win/454750/5 "2008-07-01T04:44:22Z")
Can the mantis shrimp be tamed and kept as a pet? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sea-creature-in-that-could-take-on-a-mantis-shrimp-win/454750/6 "2008-07-01T04:49:46Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Can the mantis shrimp be tamed and kept as a pet? [/QUOTE] According to Wikipedia, they are powerful enough to break a glass aquarium. So keep them in captivity at your own risk. I also found out they’re not shrimp but a different order of crustaceans and grow about 12 inches long. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sea-creature-in-that-could-take-on-a-mantis-shrimp-win/454750/7 "2008-07-01T04:52:10Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Maybe the [pistol shrimp?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpheidae) Like the mantis shrimp, it can “snap” it’s claws to create a powerful shock wave. I suppose if he got off the first shot, he might be able to take the mantis out. [/QUOTE] I was thinking the same thing as I read the OP. Those things look nasty. Anything that can fire a bubble that can, at least for a very brief moment, achieve sun-like temperatures as it collapses is hardcore in my book. I think they’re quite a bit smaller than the Mantis though.