Posted by Julie Buttercup at Enero 19, 2006 07:35 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Live-saltwater-CHAMBERED-NAUTILUS-invertebrate-mollusk_W0QQitemZ7738264712QQcategoryZ46 308QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


There is a nautilus for sale on eBay with no care instructions at all! You can't just throw these things in a salt water tank and expect them to live.. and the seller makes no effort to make sure the buyer knows how to care for one. In the Q&A it says you should have at least a "50 gallon tank" which is not nearly enough. This is very cruel.

Also, the nautilus appears to have a large crack in its shell.. probably from swimming into the walls of a too small aquarium..

I sent a complaint to the seller and reported the item to ebay (it's not allowed to sell animals other than tropical fish and snails) and I would like it if all of you did the same so that hopefully this will be taken down.

http://cgi1.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?InlineSelfHelpWebForm&userid=&UsingSSL=0&siteid=0&partnerid=2&wftype=7b6576419713e1e8&messageID=4ed620cea49cfb6f&replyTo=4ed620cea49cfb6f&subject=effb155ac12884a9cb7f30f3d46d2f10 86754dfab974f65c6f847160e26aff7c&bcrumb=906ab94c4f0a40110c35e15717ccf739f 0b802017620a2dd53b0ffc0f9bb268defa55fd80 d1fe42862ba96e63c54202797dc7afec3cde5933 614b2e4814aeaed7c471a131fc7134fdfaae02a4 22e7202&rcode=bc34c03d37ae934db777664042292bb0&instruction=&expirationDate=&err=0&dstURL=&bshowgif=false&bc1=default&bc2=default&bc3=default&bc4=default&bc5=default&bc6=default&bh1=default&bh2=default&bh3=default&bh4=default&bh5=default&bh6=default&history=default&rdir=0

This is the link to report a violation, and it's item number 7738264712.


Please report it!!! This shouldn't happen to the poor nautilus...

Thanks,
-Julie

i would think it would be better to take this out of the hands of this guy. it just has to be someone better.

Here are the questions about this item...



Q: what temperature is the water it is in?

A: The temperature it is currently in is at 72 degrees F, but can be kept at normal aquarium reef temps. of 76-78 degrees F. Salinity is at 1.022, and is being hand-fed silversides. Thank you.

Q: ok i have one more question if this dose not sell are you going to relist it.i have a 90 gallon tank that has been running for a while and it is a fish only tank. also what other fish ir invertaries do you have for sell
Jan-18-06

A: Yes, we will relist it and still have more chambered nautiluses available. For your info, invertebrates are saltwater sensitive animals, meaning if your tank cannot handle invertebrates due to chemicals added for your fishes, then the Chambered Nautilus WOULD NOT SURVIVE. We will soon list other inverts like the feather starfishes, skunk cleaner shrimps, blue-line neon sea slugs, octopuses, hard & soft corals; fishes like stingrays, triggerfishes, damsels, gobies, clownfishes, angelfishes, tangs, butterflyfishes, etc. These all depends on the demand by bidders. What are YOU specifically looking for?? Thanks for your interest.

Q: im sure you might have said this in your info but i was wondering what size tank do you need

A: Just a friendly reminder, this auction is for an experienced saltwater invertebrate hobbyist. The minimum size tank that would be appropriate for a Chambered Nautilus would be a 50 gallon or larger tank, 2 or more feet deep, 2 or more feet wide. Lighting & heating would not be as necessary, it's a deep water animal. If you have an established reef tank w/ fishes & shrimps (they might be eaten once acclimated to tank) and not have enough space for it to roam, this is not for you. Thank you

Oh sure, keep it at 72 or even 78!!!:mad: Most aquariums keep them at least at 60-65 F.

Thanks for the this link. I too reported it is a violation. This is so wrong and seems to be a continuing trend. This is just like the mimic that was being sold last year. That poor Nautilus did not look in very good condition and the advice he was given was not correct. I would hope something like this is against ebay regulations.

Ben

There is no reason to mislead people just to make a few sheckles (sp?). The way I have understood handling these people is the blast them with emails and to let ebay know whats going on. this person should be flogged at dawn!:mad:

There are a lot of problems with ebay. A friend of mine bought a stephen king signed 1st edition that turned out to be a fake. I can't imagine buying an animal from ebay because the oppurtunity for fraud is too easy. wonderpuss ain't real or if real should'nt be sold

It could be real and I do think there are aquarists out there that could keep one alive. It is not always the sellers job to educate the public. You have to be a smart consumer and do your research. This aquarium industry thing is massive hey. You can get anything if you have the will and the MONEY. Wholesalers write out wish lists for everything from lfs to public aquaria and aquaculture. Fish bounce around the world so much who knows what really came from who and was caught how...

Not taking any sort of side here. Just my opinion. But enlighten me please before I make a tool of myself.... is it illegal to keep one of these spiral pusses?

Because If I ever had the chance to aquire one for a 6X2X2 I'd be stoked!!!
That add was very pro by the way... it had instructions enough. If you aint with the program it will die. If you are it's a bargain.

That add was very pro by the way... it had instructions enough. If you aint with the program it will die. If you are it's a bargain.

BS. Advising that one can survive at reef temperatures at 1.022 is criminal. A certain death sentence for that animal. Great for the seller, because maybe they'll buy another one.

That ad is anything but professional. Its a juxtaposition of unrelated "facts" googled off the internet and put together to make the seller seem knowledgeable while overlooking all the real information that someone would need to keep one. If you think that ad was professional, you've been spending too much time around used car and timeshare salesmen.

Dan

Ok... so it was like 3am when i wrote that or something.
Point I meant was that the ad does try to warn you, if you are not seriously into this hobby you don't have a chance.
The add didn't try teach you, it tried to warn you. If you don't already know your shit it's dead. As we all know in this hobby, even if you do know your shit it is probably dead anyway.... just takes longer is all.

But yea it ain't me selling the thing, was just pointing out that heck at least ya got a warning of how tricky they are. So many things in the marine trade that just never survive in tanks. With crap all of them do ya get a warning.

It could have been a LOT worse. DO your own homework dude. Never trust a seller completely ever, and if they say it's tricky listen to them. Well I guess you already know its tricky.... but why nobody just posted a question about salt levels on the add I don't know. I mean that would have helped maybe.....

I don't slag off people in other areas of the internet just because some other people do. That leads to emotion and war. If I wanted to sook I'd bitch about wholesalers and moorish idols or coral eating nudibranchs or all the types of butterflys that never live.
All you have to do is vote with your wallet. Be informed.

Do you think this is the same person???
http://cgi.ebay.com/Live-Saltwater-DWARF-OCTOPUS-invertebrate-mollusk_W0QQitemZ7739488881QQcategoryZ46 308QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This seller's name is imageneation2. The Nautilus seller is imageneation1.

http://i3.ebayimg.com/02/i/06/0b/f7/42_2.JPG
I am emailing ebay about this item too.

Probably....
could just be a small income stream for a wholesaler.
They do seem to be able to get their hands on some funky stuff.

Ignorant of your local laws hey but if it is dodgy you would probably get better results with your fisheries people.
And as a cheap side note.... you can usually get cheaper octopus than that if you can find a restraunt that cooks live ockys. Rescue from the human feeder tank as it were....

it's so weird... with the information he's providing i don't think he really knows how to keep them alive well and i doubt he breeds them. i wonder if he traps them.

oh, one more thing. he's selling a blue ring octopus!? :confused:

starting at thirty bucks.. hm. i kinda hope he doesn't get bitten. :wink:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Live-Saltwater-BLUE-RING-OCTOPUS-invertebrate-mollusk_W0QQitemZ7739719037QQcategoryZ46 308QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

now that crosses a boundry, he is not only putting the animals life in jeprody, but now he is risking the life of anyone who bids on it, especialy without any warning of the blue rings fatal bite.

i kinda hope he doesn't get bitten. :wink:

hehe, speak for yourself! :boohoo:

Dan

I'm just waiting for some idiot to get killed by a blue ring bought on the net. Love that there is no mention of the octo's pesky lethal venom.

The blue ring looks oh so happy hanging out in a plastic bag!!! :mad:

oh, one more thing. he's selling a blue ring octopus!? :confused:

starting at thirty bucks.. hm. i kinda hope he doesn't get bitten. :wink:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Live-Saltwater-BLUE-RING-OCTOPUS-invertebrate-mollusk_W0QQitemZ7739719037QQcategoryZ46 308QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
i hope that the blue ring bites him.. what other sea critters is this guy gonna sell?

chris

holy crap!!!! look at this!!!! (http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZimageneation2)
btw sorry for the double post.

chris

I reported him to eBay and also let them know the animal has a fatal bite...not "black-widow-fatal", but "drop-dead-in-four-minutes-fatal."

Dan

ah, yes. blue ringed octopus! comes with free plastic bag! take one home today! (btwdon'tletitbiteyoubutohwaithedidnteve nmentionthat..)

oh and also, 'i think i'll stick in in a sandwich bag and poke it till it shows its angry coloration. it has no problem biting through a wet suit, but this is probably a good idea.'

this guy's an idiot..

but I could be wrong. Checkout website, www.tonmo.com, for more info on octopuses. Thanks.

Haha, he's so silly that he's sending people to the very website that is delporing his activities. Oh well, at least something good might come of it. If selling octopuses is against the ebay rules, I suggest everyone just complains about it.

Edit He might just not know what he's doing, after reading some of his q & a 's he said that if the person could find an octopus locally it would be better than buying from him. (which I think is good advice, that could potentially result in him loosing a sale)

All he needs is a line reading This octo is playful and loves to be handled. fun for the whole family.

Well, good news (or bad, if the little guy didn't make it...)

The blue ringed octopus was taken off ebay.
The seller ended this listing early because the item is no longer available for sale

Bet it was all the emails about the blue ring being venomous that did the trick and not :angelpus:.

Bet it was all the emails about the blue ring being venomous that did the trick and not :angelpus:.

Oh, don't you worry--it'll be :angel: soon enough anway.

Dan

:sad: the dwarf octopus sold for $26 and the guy says he has more coming in... Here is his reply to my question
Q: If this octopus is full size, how long will it live?
A: I don't know its life expectancy. I think w/ proper love & care, any animal should live for a long time. But pls. checkout www.tonmo.com for more info. Thanks.

It would be nice if he actually visited Tonmo.com before selling these animals...

Its good that he's sending people here(and ironic), has anyone actually complained to him directly?

i have. here's what he wrote me back about the nautilus:


"I'm sorry you feel that way about this. First of all, it is not extremely difficult to care for this animal otherwise I wouldn't list this. I posted notice that bidders be SALTWATER hobbyist, and I will provide care & acclimating instructions only to the winning buyer. Are you a hobbyist, do you own any pets, have an aquarium w/ fish & inverts? "

Well he may not be a saint but I still say this rogue seller is not worse than the whole ocean raping industry as a whole....
course they get to sell thru wholesalers and lfs.
So much stuff dies in this industry... serious hey.
so bloody much...

What, Raping and pillaging the ocean isnt all that bad

Unfortunatly there isnt that much that can be done. At least he replied, perhaps providing him with some info on the reccomended tank size and chiller(necessity!!) for keeping a nautalis, could help. I dont know if I can sign up for ebay, I might try and email him.

I feel bad when I sell a customer a tank bred damsel and it dies before getting a chance to become a savage bully.
But dam have I sent some animals to their death.
Customers lie about their experience, others are over confident and some just don't care about the whole 'Like an animal, so put it in a glass box.... where sooner or later that animal will die... because you liked it and put it in a box' paradox.
But there is a huge market for new things to put in marine tanks. Sustainable or not, people will exploit this. I'm one of them but I really do try buy captive bred, my customers usually want wild caught.. which is cool as we are mostly a freshwater shop, and our competition focus's on salt. Works out well.
Most the really amazing stuff is still wild caught... and if people arent breeding them then the fact they may live longer in one persons tank as opposed to another is kinda a moot point.
I like to think I breed more fish than I kill.... not going to stop and count just incase I'm wrong though. Try keep the whole karmic ballance in check....
Thing is, if fish shops around here got the chance to try sell nautilis they would leap at it and to a man they'd kill them all.
public loves weird stuff, and they can be very cruel in how they get it.