Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by david_b 4302 days ago
Please don't buy Ecospheres - I realize that many people don't feel particularly sympathetic toward shrimp, but they really are amazing creatures slowly starving to death:

http://www.petshrimp.com/opaeinfo.php

Although I have to admit large-scale installation of these things in cubicles would be quite the fitting ststement for many companies...

1 comments

Do you have any other sources? When one company bashes a competitor in general I'm skeptical. I also know that the Ecosphere company sells larger installations for businesses and museums which gave them some credibility in my eyes (back when I first bought one).

It wouldn't surprise me much if you were right.

I don't plan to buy another though. It's been neat to watch, but after 6+ years (since I've had two spheres) I'm satisfied.

Sadly the lifespan on wikipedia is not sourced:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halocaridina_rubra

If they indeed life up to 20 years the Ecosphere can hardly be very well balanced if it keeps them going for only 2-3 years.

Here's a highly-rated detailed review that addresses the EcoSphere controversy. The author(s) appear to be very well informed. http://www.amazon.com/review/R39YUFJKTH4NEF/ref=cm_cr_dp_cmt...