Mantis shrimp possess remarkable visual systems and cognitive abilities that make their welfare in aquarium settings a more complex consideration than typically recognized for crustaceans.
The cognitive sophistication of mantis shrimp means that their welfare in aquarium settings deserves more careful consideration than they typically receive. An animal with complex territorial behavior, individual memory, and sensory systems of extraordinary richness cannot be adequately housed in a small bare tank. Captive mantis shrimp require appropriate substrate for burrowing, correct water chemistry, appropriate light levels for their extreme visual systems, and sufficient space for territorial expression. The combination of cognitive complexity and specialised sensory needs makes mantis shrimp one of the more demanding aquarium species from a welfare perspective.