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Family get a fishy surprise

Feb 22 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

“They are expert hunters and use their hugely powerful club-like claws to literally pulverise their prey. Some species can produce a blow equivalent to the power of a .22 calibre bullet and there are even reports of them smashing the glass in their tanks.

“They are well capable of eating their way through an entire aquarium and the fact that they keep themselves so well hidden can mean that, by the time people discover the culprit it’s often too late.

“We’ll be able to provide Diesel with a safe and secure home here at the aquarium where Charlie and the rest of the family can come along and see him as often as they like.”

The family admit they quite miss the menacing mantis, even if it has such violent tendencies.

Charlie with his family

Jenny said: “It was quite exciting, although we were a bit horrified when we found out divers call them ‘thumbsplitters’ because they can punch hard enough to split a man’s thumb.”

The mum also revealed more drama has since unfolded in the tank, which has become more exciting to watch each evening than the telly.

She said: “Every night after we’ve put Charlie and his sister Ellie, who’s 20 months old, to bed we sit and watch the tank and the live rock is amazing, it’s teeming with life.

“We’ve spotted strange little barnacles, bristle fish and a pistol shrimp over the last few days, and who knows what more is in it?”

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