ecosphere, inhumane?

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SusieJJ

chinnies215
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
207
Location
Holbrook, MA
I was looking at ecospheres on amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Ecosphere-Ass...TF8&coliid=I36IUZ7UKRLOOX&colid=2N4IJU9HEUB0U

I always like to read the dissatisfied reviews and came across this one:


18 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars "horrorsphere", April 12, 2008
By B. Church "babbio" (NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
bought one of these thinking it was cute and interesting. After researching a little, I was horrified by what I found. The manufacturer and store neglected to mention several key factors regarding the shrimp living in these closed systems. One of the best sources I found was the following link:

http://www.petshrimp.com/hawaiianredshrimp.html

I will never, ever buy something like this again. I love animals and I can't possible think of this as anything but cruel.

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Comment Comments (6)



I followed the link, but I couldn't find any info on how they're cruel and inhumane... Anyone have any data on that?
 
Well from the link it seems that this is your answer...

Sadly, this little shrimp is currently being abused by being sold in tiny, spherical, fully sealed glass containers widely called "ecospheres." It is claimed by the companies that sell them that they are selling a fully functioning ecosystem with the shrimp and the algae keeping each other alive. However, that is a sad and devious lie, which is being propagated by these companies for the sake of profits and to the detriment of these wonderful animals. The truth is that these shrimp are slowly *starving to death*, *suffocating* and being *poisoned* in those containers, due to lack of food and oxygen, and the accumulation of shrimp waste. This kind of container would kill any other shrimp within a few days, but it takes 1-3 years for Hawaiian Red Shrimp to finally die, since it has developed such a remarkable physiology to deal with extreme situations. During this 1-3 year torture, they actually *shrink* (every time they molt) due to lack of food, which means that they are basically consuming their own body. They could perfectly well take all the other extreme conditions in those "ecospheres" (lack of air etc.), but what kills them in the end is the lack of real food over a long period of time. The little algae they find in the container lacks in nutritional value and is just not enough to keep these shrimp alive for long. It seems to be "in" and "cool" to have these tiny torture containers sitting on one's desk nowadays, but hopefully this website can contribute towards informing the general public about what is really behind those "ecospheres." It is my sincere hope that this shrimp becomes widespread in the hobby at some point in time, so that there will be no need to buy "torturespheres."

I personally know nothing about the subject nor do I know anything about shrimp, sorry.
 
Thanks for posting that. After looking again, I still can't find this information from that link.. I think I'm special tonight, and I just get aggravated and can't look anymore :p
 
Interesting, and if it is true, disturbing. It is all the way down, second paragraph :).
 
Well, having worked at an aquarium, it only makes sense to me that those wouldn't work humanely. As the shrimp eat the algae they're going to produce waste, and I can't imagine that anything could grow quick enough to fix the nitrates etc. in the system brought on by the waste of the shrimp. Even in huge tanks it takes forever for the water to cycle to keep the nitrates, nitrites etc at an okay level. So for a tiny enclosure with shrimp, I just don't see how it would work.

I could be wrong, but to me it just seems like it wouldn't work out based on basic water chemistry.
 
Don't know if these helps? -

http://www.eco-sphere.com/care_manual.htm

I'd be interested to see what people think as I was thinking about getting one. as far as I can see the shrimp eat the exoskeletons and the waste is broken down by bacteria that grows as a result of specific conditions.
 
I just don't think it's viable over a long period of time. There's too many variables. So what if the shrimp reproduce at a rate that the bacteria can't keep up? Then there's too much waste in the water and not enough for them to eat.

I guess I just think it's all how you look at it. As a short term thing is it okay? Yeah, I'd say so, but I think over time it wouldn't be healthy for the shrimp. Besides, like that website said, the algae that grows isn't really enough to sustain the shrimp over time. I'm sure they're like fish and most other creatures that do better on a varied diet.
 
I have raised Cherry Red Shrimp, which are similar that what is in the ecosphere. I do think those ecospheres are inhumane. My shrimp had a large tank and were all over it all the time. They like to move about, hide in the plants, etc. In theory, the ecosphere might work, but I don't think it's the greatest way for any shrimp to live out their life.
 
I wonder why no one has gone after the manufacturer of eco spheres for false advertising then? I was under the impression that the ecosphere was an example of a perfectly balanced closed ecosystem--like a biodome. I thought they were marketed as such, I could be wrong though. If they are, it seems as if a lawsuit could be brought forth and they could be eliminated on the basis of false advertising.
 
Simply put, Sue... Most people don't care enough to research what they're getting into and will accept things at face value. If the box says it's ok, it has to be. If the package at the pet store with deadly yogurt drops in it says it's for chinchillas, then it HAS to be OK for them.
 
Simply put, Sue... Most people don't care enough to research what they're getting into and will accept things at face value. If the box says it's ok, it has to be. If the package at the pet store with deadly yogurt drops in it says it's for chinchillas, then it HAS to be OK for them.

That's true. Scary too. I wish personal responsibility was cool so people would participate :p
 
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