Beware the killer shrimp!

Killer shrimp stalks waterways of California aquarium

Check this out! In April, the SplashZone, a children's aquarium in California, got some new rocks from Florida. Contained in these rocks were a pair of mantis shrimp. Mantis shrimp are known as "thumb-splitters," and these two wasted no time in wreaking havoc on the poor snails, barnacles and hermit crabs of the tank.

The vicious duo soon became a crustacean Khmer Rouge, unleashing hell in their aquatic killing fields. They'd been at it for months when one of them was finally taken out by the aquarium staff in November.

The remaining one has gone to the mattresses somewhere in the tank. In an aquarium that holds 13,000 gallons, it is a tall order to find a four inch shrimp, so the body count is expected to rise.

01-05-01