[ocporkpie]

just a nugget of redundant info: i was moving a sponge that got knocked over... anyhow, i was keeping one eye out for my sneaky mantis shrimp. while i had him in plain view i reached for the sponge( carefully, so that i didn't expose it to any air) when out of nowhere, the mantis shot up from underneath a rock and out of the water, where it reached an apex about an inch from my nose. needless to say, i let out a sigh of relief and a vow to never risk the unecessary. i won't put my hand in the tank unless i quarantine the mantis first. and with all this new info, i'll be picking up a pair of shoulder length gloves this week as well. thanks everyone