How to Tell Male and Female Mantis Shrimp Apart? A Simple Guide to Identification

To tell male and female mantis shrimp apart, you can look at the size, the claws, the abdomen and the back. Size: the smaller ones are female mantis shrimp, and the larger ones are male mantis shrimp. Claws: the ones with slender claws are female mantis shrimp, and the ones with thick, large claws are male mantis shrimp. Abdomen: the ones with a very obvious “” (king) shape on the abdomen are female mantis shrimp, while male mantis shrimp do not have it. Back: the ones with a black line on the back are female mantis shrimp, while male mantis shrimp do not have it.

1. When is the best time to eat mantis shrimp?

Mantis shrimp are best eaten from April to June each year. During this period they are at their plumpest and most delicious, especially the female mantis shrimp, which carry a lot of roe. After the mantis shrimp finish spawning, the fishing moratorium begins, and it becomes hard to get mantis shrimp. But by September, the small shrimp have grown up and mantis shrimp can be eaten again, though at this time they are very small and not plump enough to be really delicious.

2. Which tastes better, male or female mantis shrimp?

Generally speaking, female mantis shrimp taste much better than male mantis shrimp, mainly because of the female mantis shrimp's unique physiological characteristics. Its flesh is very delicious, and if you get a female mantis shrimp with roe, it tastes even better.