[nmotz]

O. japonicus are very rare in this hobby otherwise we'd all have one! They're pretty special. If you find one, buy it and let the rest of us know where you got it so we can get one too.

1. Just based on my interactions with people on this forum I'd say shell rot is really common with Peacocks. They're going to get it at some point. But all is not lost if you follow the treatment protocol. Very large males are the most suspect. For the exact rate of occurrence of shell rot you'll have to ask Dr. Roy Caldwell.

2. None that I know of, but Peacocks are pretty awesome, don't let the shell rot scare you.

3. See above. We've all been told that it's hard to source/ship this species but I can't remember why exactly. Seems like they come from many of the same places as you might expect to find Peacocks. Most of it may be because they are such a deep water species. At a depth of up to 100m it's just not common for them to get picked up unless a collector specifically goes after one and the market for mantis shrimp just isn't big enough. Many Peacocks are inadvertently caught from what I understand. Run into trawlers nets but it's possible that O. japonicus is just too deep.

4. Odontodactylids. Big or small, they are where it's at in terms of personality and the interactive experience. However, they are more sensitive than Gonodactylids, especially the smaller species like O. havanensis. If you've never kept mantis shrimp it's probably best to start with something like Neogonodactylus wennerae/oerstedii. G. smithii is also highly rated. Read up on how best to keep them and you'll do fine.