Two firsts this weekend - images from Anilao

This was the first time I have come across each of these scenes. The moray was one of a group of four eels at a cleaning station populated by three different species of shrimp. They were competing for attention in a crowded little hole. It was a bustling scene! The mantis is the first one I've found bearing eggs.

Neither shot is brilliant and I would welcome suggestions. For now I am just really pleased to have found them:

I like both shots, but having been trying without success to get some good mantis shrimp video myself, I really like that shot.

Thanks for the comment. Looking at it now, I wish that I had backed off a few cm to improve the framing. That mantis was deep in its hole and I exhausted the patience of my buddy waiting for it to re-emerge. I was pretty much right on top of it as I had only a 500 lumen focus light in operation at that point (due to operator error) and was lucky to get anything useable.

Yeah, I can see that - however, getting close shows great detail and colors, so there is that.

Very nice - and both awesome finds. It's tough to coax a mantis shrimp to come closer!

Glad you liked it! In my experience, a mantis can't be coaxed, and rarely out-waited if they have decided to retreat. But I have had them approach a few times with what seem to be threat displays when I have been too close. I guess they may see their reflection in the port glass. What I've always wondered is whether they could attack and break the port - the peacock mantis has the "hammer" claws that have been shown to break aquarium glass. I have not read any such accounts from photographers but since I'm not sure, I back off when that happens!