Sealed shrimp tanks/ecosystems: Maybe Don’t
Hey guys! It’s the holiday season and I am seeing it pop up in my various social media feeds that folks are asking for / receiving these neat sealed ecosystems for shrimp.
I remember seeing these at the mall in a big city, in the 80’s, before household internet was a thing, and being smitten! How AMAZING, these glass containers, with a perfectly balanced ecosystem of shrimp and algae inside! The only reason I never got one was the cost. We were not very well off. So I would stare at them when we’d go to the city, once a year or so. So cool!
They do seem very neat. There is some science there: the species of shrimp used are Opae Ula (Halocaridina rubra), a very unique and amazing species endemic to the Hawaiian islands (I find it curious that the company that makes these does not specify what species they use; are they worried people will find out more about them and stop buying the product? I digress…). This brackish water species is incredible, as it can tolerate truly abysmal conditions, especially if it is slowly acclimated to them. Notice I said “tolerate” and not “thrive”. The sealed tanks are “perfectly balanced” to grow algae and microscopic life, which feeds the shrimp. The shrimp’s waste then feeds the algae and bacterial growth. It really does sound legitimate, and the sealed tanks may well start out that way (I’d have to bust one open and do some water testing to really know). However, if we delve into the science a bit, and learn some chemistry, we realize that this slowly becomes their death trap. Anyone that has cycled an aquarium might know of the nitrogen cycle, and that in a sealed environment with living organisms, things do not stay “in balance” indefinitely. Even with bacteria and algae converting ammonia and nitrites, over time these accumulate regardless in these sealed environments with no gas exchange. The Opae Ula are extremely resilient; moreso than any other shrimp species commonly kept in captivity, and so they do survive this for a while. But over a year or three, they gradually starve and the toxins build up, and they perish. They don’t breed. The idea of a “zero care” pet is attractive, but ultimately a bit misleading.
This is a shame. Though 2-3 years sounds like a long time for a shrimp to live, this species has been known to live for anywhere from 12-20 years (one anecdotal experience from a keeper was that a shrimp purchased in a sealed sphere was “broken free” and lived an additional 16 years after).
Dang these guys are CUTE. (Photo source)
It’s especially a shame since the sealed spheres are an expensive gimmick; one can easily set up a small tank at home where the shrimps will not only live, but thrive and breed, in a setup that costs less than one of the small sealed units (and honestly they can look way cooler when you do it yourself). I have long loved shrimp and keep a few freshwater species. I researched Opae Ula after a friend visited them in their native habitats in Hawaii, and put together a setup for far less than one of those sealed units. My shrimp are very active, healthy, and breeding like whoa. After initial setup, their care requires less attention than a houseplant. I feed them a tiny amount once to twice a month, and top off their water when necessary with distilled water. They do not require filtered water (actually the water movement can be harmful especially in smaller tanks), and your room temperatures should be between 55-85°F. You can easily keep them with no electricity, unlike other tanks. My houseplants take more time and are more fussy than that!
I know some of you are thinking, “lawd, this person is so worried about some dang water bugs! I eat shrimp for lunch with cocktail sauce! How stupid! Who cares!” That’s fair. What you care about is up to you! But I know many friends and acquaintances prefer not to buy into gimmicky and potentially cruel products when much happier alternatives exist. I just wanted to put this info out there because the sealed spheres DO seem REALLY COOL, and exciting, especially to my fellow nerdy people. I just wanted to let folks know that it’s possible to be smitten with these tiny amazing shrimp AND keep them in conditions that they will thrive in!
If you are interested in learning more, please do some research into their needs, and source responsibly! Mine are breeding so well that I will probably need to find new homes for some in the spring when the temperatures increase. It’s very possible to find captive bred shrimps, at least here in the USA.
According to researcher, Scott R. Santos, of the Department of Biological Sciences and Cell & Molecular Biosciences Peak Program, at Auburn University in Alabama, “Commercial harvesting, coupled with habitat destruction as well as strong regional endemism, could lead to the depletion and/or extinction of unique Halocaridina populations or genetic groups.” (source)
MORE INFO (I’m not affiliated with any of these people just FYI):
Pet Shrimp “Supershrimp” page: http://www.petshrimp.com/hawaiianredshrimp.php
An Opae Ula Forum (yes for reals): http://www.petshrimp.com/discussions/viewforum.php?f=16&sid=266367326b022bd9fac3b2de45fc7587
Another page about Opae Ula: http://www.fukubonsai.com/m-l2e.html
An EXCELLENT video on youtube that goes over all the basics!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOtnZ8bEKz0
So there you have it! Sealed shrimp tanks: you can do better, with only a tiny bit more effort! Buy an Ecosphere… or not… the choice is yours. At least now you know more about it!
