diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatScreen.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatScreen.kt
index 911933ba..ec3c5d4f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatScreen.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatScreen.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package com.bitchat.android.ui
 
-import com.bitchat.android.ui.theme.BitchatFontFamily
 import com.bitchat.android.ui.theme.BitchatFontFamily
 // [Goose] Bridge file share events to ViewModel via dispatcher is installed in ChatScreen composition
 
@@ -593,14 +592,47 @@ fun ChatInputSection(
             )
             HorizontalDivider(thickness = 1.dp, color = palette.outlineVariant)
         }
-        // Mention suggestions box
-        if (showMentionSuggestions && mentionSuggestions.isNotEmpty()) {
-            MentionSuggestionsBox(
-                suggestions = mentionSuggestions,
-                onSuggestionClick = onMentionSuggestionClick,
-                modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()
-            )
-            HorizontalDivider(thickness = 1.dp, color = palette.outlineVariant)
+        // Retain the final populated list while the picker exits. The state layer clears
+        // suggestions together with visibility; without this snapshot the panel would empty and
+        // snap shut before its shrink/fade animation had a frame to run.
+        var retainedMentionSuggestions by remember { mutableStateOf(emptyList<String>()) }
+        LaunchedEffect(mentionSuggestions) {
+            if (mentionSuggestions.isNotEmpty()) {
+                retainedMentionSuggestions = mentionSuggestions
+            }
+        }
+        val mentionPickerVisible = showMentionSuggestions && mentionSuggestions.isNotEmpty()
+        val displayedMentionSuggestions = mentionSuggestions.ifEmpty {
+            retainedMentionSuggestions
+        }
+
+        AnimatedVisibility(
+            visible = mentionPickerVisible,
+            enter = fadeIn(tween(BitchatMotion.STANDARD_MS)) +
+                expandVertically(
+                    animationSpec = tween(
+                        BitchatMotion.STANDARD_MS,
+                        easing = FastOutSlowInEasing
+                    ),
+                    expandFrom = Alignment.Bottom
+                ),
+            exit = fadeOut(tween(BitchatMotion.QUICK_MS)) +
+                shrinkVertically(
+                    animationSpec = tween(
+                        BitchatMotion.QUICK_MS,
+                        easing = FastOutSlowInEasing
+                    ),
+                    shrinkTowards = Alignment.Bottom
+                )
+        ) {
+            Column {
+                MentionSuggestionsBox(
+                    suggestions = displayedMentionSuggestions,
+                    onSuggestionClick = onMentionSuggestionClick,
+                    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()
+                )
+                HorizontalDivider(thickness = 1.dp, color = palette.outlineVariant)
+            }
         }
         MessageInput(
             value = messageText,
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/InputComponents.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/InputComponents.kt
index d0377a8f..07f633dc 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/InputComponents.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/InputComponents.kt
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ import androidx.compose.animation.core.tween
 import androidx.compose.animation.expandHorizontally
 import androidx.compose.animation.fadeIn
 import androidx.compose.animation.fadeOut
+import androidx.compose.animation.expandVertically
 import androidx.compose.animation.scaleIn
 import androidx.compose.animation.scaleOut
 import androidx.compose.animation.shrinkHorizontally
+import androidx.compose.animation.shrinkVertically
 import androidx.compose.animation.togetherWith
 import androidx.compose.foundation.*
 import androidx.compose.foundation.interaction.MutableInteractionSource
@@ -700,6 +702,7 @@ fun CommandSuggestionItem(
     }
 }
 
+@OptIn(ExperimentalFoundationApi::class)
 @Composable
 fun MentionSuggestionsBox(
     suggestions: List<String>,
@@ -711,6 +714,12 @@ fun MentionSuggestionsBox(
     LazyColumn(
         modifier = modifier
             .heightIn(max = MentionSuggestionsMaxHeight)
+            .animateContentSize(
+                animationSpec = tween(
+                    BitchatMotion.STANDARD_MS,
+                    easing = FastOutSlowInEasing
+                )
+            )
             .clip(MentionSuggestionsShape)
             .background(palette.surface)
             .border(1.dp, palette.outlineVariant, MentionSuggestionsShape),
@@ -722,7 +731,18 @@ fun MentionSuggestionsBox(
         ) { suggestion ->
             MentionSuggestionItem(
                 suggestion = suggestion,
-                onClick = { onSuggestionClick(suggestion) }
+                onClick = { onSuggestionClick(suggestion) },
+                modifier = Modifier.animateItem(
+                    fadeInSpec = tween(
+                        BitchatMotion.STANDARD_MS,
+                        easing = FastOutSlowInEasing
+                    ),
+                    placementSpec = tween(
+                        BitchatMotion.STANDARD_MS,
+                        easing = FastOutSlowInEasing
+                    ),
+                    fadeOutSpec = tween(BitchatMotion.QUICK_MS)
+                )
             )
         }
     }
@@ -731,15 +751,41 @@ fun MentionSuggestionsBox(
 @Composable
 fun MentionSuggestionItem(
     suggestion: String,
-    onClick: () -> Unit
+    onClick: () -> Unit,
+    modifier: Modifier = Modifier
 ) {
     val palette = LocalBitchatPalette.current
+    val interactionSource = remember { MutableInteractionSource() }
+    val isPressed by interactionSource.collectIsPressedAsState()
+    val pressedBackground by animateColorAsState(
+        targetValue = if (isPressed) {
+            palette.accentOrange.copy(alpha = 0.10f)
+        } else {
+            Color.Transparent
+        },
+        animationSpec = tween(BitchatMotion.QUICK_MS, easing = FastOutSlowInEasing),
+        label = "mentionSuggestionPressedBackground"
+    )
+    val pressedScale by animateFloatAsState(
+        targetValue = if (isPressed) 0.985f else 1f,
+        animationSpec = spring(
+            dampingRatio = Spring.DampingRatioMediumBouncy,
+            stiffness = Spring.StiffnessHigh
+        ),
+        label = "mentionSuggestionPressedScale"
+    )
 
     Row(
-        modifier = Modifier
+        modifier = modifier
             .fillMaxWidth()
             .height(MentionSuggestionRowHeight)
-            .clickable { onClick() }
+            .scale(pressedScale)
+            .background(pressedBackground)
+            .clickable(
+                interactionSource = interactionSource,
+                indication = null,
+                onClick = onClick
+            )
             .padding(horizontal = 16.dp),
         verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
     ) {