How to Tell Male and Female Mantis Shrimp Apart? A Few Simple Methods

The mantis shrimp is a kind of marine shrimp. Most species live in tropical and subtropical waters, a few are found in temperate waters, and they are produced along the coast of China. Mantis shrimp also come in male and female, so how do you tell male and female mantis shrimp apart?

1. How to tell male and female mantis shrimp apart?

Male and female mantis shrimp can be distinguished by looking at four places. Look at the size: the smaller ones are female mantis shrimp, and the larger ones are male mantis shrimp. Look at the claws: the ones with rather slender claws are female mantis shrimp, and the ones with rather thick, large claws are male mantis shrimp. Look at the abdomen: the one with a very obvious “” (wang) character on its abdomen is a female mantis shrimp, while the male mantis shrimp does not have one. Look at the back: the one with a black line on its back is a female mantis shrimp, while the male mantis shrimp does not have one.

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.

3. When is the time to eat mantis shrimp?

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