Nautilus

[reeferaddict]

Originally Posted by jws444

That's just not right. I hope no one buys it so that BA will take the hit on stocking an animal that MUST be left in the wild.

If someone buys it, I hope they have fun with a $170 shell to put on the bookshelf!

You know, I appreciate everyone's concerns for conservation, but really now... let's get serious. The observations of one hobbyist/amateur marine biologist might be the key to ensuring ANY species long term survival when you consider that OUR species is coming to dominate the planet completely. If some of us DON'T grab the ball and study these types of creatures in captivity and learn how to care for them... then what will happen when their "natural" environment is stripped away by our own ever consuming human species?

While I don't advocate everyone running out and trying to keep these strange animals, I see no problem with a few people setting up species tanks, observing these guys in captivity, and reporting their findings to science. I'm sure the financial commitment required would cull out all but the most dedicated hobbyists anyways. When making such statements, let's all remember that 10 years ago keeping stony corals was viewed in the same manner, and 30 years ago keeping almost anything we currently do was the same. Without pioneers that thought "outside the box", we would all be limited to buying a new stock of clownfish every 6 months after they died... anybody remember those days?