EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecosystem, Large Pod

It's beautiful! Came with at least 5 shrimp. They are hard to count. I am so happy I didn't get an EcoSphere with dead shrimp in it!

Alright, I ordered this item on Whim. Like.. I don't even know how I found myself looking at the 'EcoSphere'really.. but my attention had been caught none the less..And then I was like, I want a large one if I'm going to purchase, so I'm going to pay 165+usd for this bad boy.Now, what I did not smartly do, is look at the size difference.. the large one is only 7.5" tall.. vs 5.2" tall. But you pay a significantlyhigher price just for those 2.3 inches you get... I'd argue its not worth the price. Go get a measure tape and pull out 7.5 inches. Its not that tall..or substantial within the context of this matter. Having those numbers to look out will help you make a grounded purchase.Now onto the item. It arrived very well packaged. Looked like a regular ol box, but the EcoSphere Pod had a form fitting foam enclosure around it.As long as you get fast shipping and what not, I would imagine that you wouldn't have much issue with your shrimp. All of my shrimp .. (count 6-8?) seem to be alive and well.I've got one large tree branch in mine. A very small spot of green algae. Trying to make sure it gets plenty of light none the less.. this first day, because I don't have a clue how long its been in the box and what have you. They say don't go to crazy on the light in the instructions because, too much algae equals a higher PH...which surprises me.You get some very detailed instructions on how to care for your little glass world you receive.Overall its a cool product, easy to care for, and its pretty to look at.I would make sure if you have a cat... that uh, this product is secured to the table surface or whatever.. I can imagine one of those A-hole catsthat just like to knock stuff off table for s**ts and giggles, would look at the little moving shrimp and maybe try to swat at them or something. Then there goes your expensive science/art display into the floor...I'll try to remember to do an update on this product down the line.Update Time "You purchased this item on April 23, 2017."It's now Feb 2020.Some of the Shrimp still live. You can indeed add water to this "Self contained" unit if you try hard enough. I had some aquarium sealant. Safe for fish, I flipped this bad boy over, using a very sharp knife & being really really careful, I took out the plug at the bottom, added some fiji bottled water to the system, it was at the same temp. Yes really fiji, (I thought if I could safely drink it, it had to be safe for shrimp), anyways sealed it back up, no leaks.I wish more of the shrimp still lived, but the ones that are alive I guess are the toughest of the bunch. They've defintely survived some temperature fluctuations over their life spans, were talking from 20 degree cold room to 100 degrees.So they are pretty hardy in that regards. I would like to ultimately get a nice little aquarium for the surviving shrimp, so I could give them something a little more appetizing that algae.Anyways, happy with my purchase still.

EDIT: So ever since I got this item, I've been doing research on what they actually are and how they can survive longer... if you want a sustainable ecosystem, this sphere WILL NOT provide you what you are looking for. These spheres provide just enough food for the shrimp to barely avoid starving. These shrimp are known to live up to 20 years! How cruel is it to know that even under such ideal "conditions" as stated by Eco-Sphere, these shrimp are only expected to last 1-3 years (if you are lucky more).I will say this now: If you like the idea of purchasing or making a SUSTAINABLE environment for these tough-as-nail shrimp, DO NOT BUY THESE ECOSPHERES. Instead, buy the shrimp directly from the source in Hawaii, and understand what they need as aquatic pets to make a balanced ecosystem. The idea of using these shrimp is a good one, but Eco-sphere's CLOSED Ecosystem comes with more of a price than meets the eye. I almost regret writing my 5 star review earlier. :'(If you are like me and actually care then take a look at these two websites and decide for yourself which route you'd like to choose.[...]&[...]EDUCATE YOURSELF AND SAVE SOME SHRIMP LIVES!!!!Extra info: I will be a drilling hole on the top of my ecosphere... this will allow air to move freely between the outside and inside, breaking the closed ecosystem, and it will also allow me to feed them directly. Although constant airflow is not necessary, air it out twice a month is recommended. Eventually, I will move them into a large 2 gallon brackish water tank. This and along with a very shorty list of other "ingredients" will provide enough space and nutrients to sustain you own colony of reproducing shrimp. Studies indicate that these shrimp take 2 years to fully mature sexually, so don't be expecting to make a hatchery in a month.Original Review:Received my Eco-Sphere in the mail today and the shrimp were still swimming when they arrived! The packaging was great so, I wouldn't be worried about getting broken product. I recommend all customers select the NEXT DAY shipping option. I say this because: These Eco-Spheres weren't made to spend long periods in the dark and without warmth. The faster the shipping, the better off your shrimp will be when they get to you. :)If you need more info about the actual product and how it works, check out: [...]I am really enjoying my shrimp thus far and I hope to enjoy them for years to come. I will be updating this if need be but for now I give it 5/5 stars for the following three reasons:1. It's an ingenious idea that encourages curiosity and education (mostly having to do with Marine Biology).2. Amazon offers the lowest online price (as far as I know.)3. It's elegant, simple, and hassle-free design leaves you without the burden of responsibility and is also aesthetic pleasing (they look great on table tops, but should not be put near heat sources or speakers).All in all.... Fantastic product experience thus far!!

My sister got this for me for Christmas and it arrived yesterday. She didn't want to accidentally kill it while hiding it from me until Christmas so I got it a few days early. I love it! I love watching them zoom around. There is one I call Big Red who is my special favorite. I can't wait to see how this lasts.One note about longevity: if you look through the reviews, you will see how easy it is for this thing to die. Think about it, NASA has been trying to create a self-sustained ecosystem and I'm pretty sure this is the most complex they have been able to come up with. Ecosystems are so carefully balanced that one tiny thing will set them off wrong. Now, remember, as their little book says, Earth is an ecosystem and we have been messing with it and changing the balance on a large scale since the Industrial Revolution. If leaving this pod in the sun for a few days is enough to kill it due to overheating or algae bloom, what do you think is happening with all the stuff we are burning and polluting and the trees getting cut down?

I've had this a little over 3 months and all 7 shrimp are still alive and well. My kids check on them daily. It sits on our mantel normally but I currently have it sitting in a south facing window to build the algae back up. It has been sitting there 3 days now and the algae has about tripled in size. (When ever it gets low, you can move it to a well lit location (not direct sunlight!!) to increase algae amount.) I will move it back to our mantel in a day or so. Other than that, we don't touch it at all. We just look and admire them :)Would recommend!