Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Would you enjoy seeing a death trap? I would not, so I created a little better home as I best I could care for them. Couple weeks ago, I saw the link to this intriguing ecosystem from a friend's facebook post and immediately so interested getting these little cute shrimps home. I read couple 1 star reviews and gets the hint that rather than a self sustaining ecosystem, it is simply a death trap. With the benefit of doubt, I researched more about the science behind ecosystem. The brutal fact became clear as I learned more: Manufactures trap a very unique shrimp specie that has very longevity up to 20 years in a eco sphere that cuts their live span to a fraction of couple years, which is still very long compare to what people expect out of a pet, and call it eco sphere. Sorry, there is absolutely nothing eco about it. it just these shrimp can survive the harsh condition of no food for a long time. They will get smaller in size as time pass and they will not reproduce in this sealed glass environment. Additionally, these shrimps prefer in shade rather than in the light, this eco sphere leave the shrimp no place to hide out at all...I will not continue to bore you with more brutal fact as there are already some detailed comments about it and some simple research will tell you more than what you would like to know. So... I still really want the shrimp, but not the death trap part. I decided to set up a little fish bowl myself to welcome the shrimps. I do not have the time to care for a large fish tank, filters and all that, but I know I can care for a small fish bowl. When I say care, there is really not much after the initial set up. Here is what I got in the picture: - 1.5 gallon fish bowl - Rocks - Instant Ocean Marine Salt - Bottled/purified water - Anubias plant (comes in a tube) Not many fresh water plant can survive in brackish/salty-ish water, but the anubias seems doing ok so far. - Marimo moss ball plant. That's the green ball you are seeing. It is shrimp's kitchen. The green moss ball is a plant that grows slowly in that shape. My shrimps love to mounch on it after couple laps of swimming. I do not feed them additional food. - A toy house. It made of clay I think. The shrimp love to hang out on the front porch if you look the second picture closely. They also like to hide under or climb on the house. - Opea Ula shrimp! It might be cumbersome than just getting the ecosphere, but I feel the shrimps are truly happier and less stressed. It was fun to play with my own idea,too. It's worth the effort. With self growing food (moss ball) and plenty hide out spots, they are active. I remember the first time I put them in there, they swim around for hours before finally took a break to explore all the spaces they can get into between the rocks. It is enjoyable to watch them chop the moss ball hair with that super tiny claws and shovel all of that into the mouth after a long day at work(They are small, I had to shine the flash light to see the claws in action). That's my two cents there. How would you like to purchase them is your choice, I just wish you know the fact and get the most enjoyment out of your choice :)