Is it possible to keep a nautilus?

[rkb]

Or is this one of the many creatures that are best left in the wild?

 

[Sychobunny21]

I have only ever heard of one or two people trying to keep one and the only one I have ever seen was at the Waikiki Aquarium in Honolulu.

 

[francis1123]

seaworld in san diego has a few. they need cold water.

 

[GreshamH]

Plenty of public aquariums keep them but it's not really a hobbyist animal. Like Francis said, they need cold water.

 

[deangelr]

there is one in the DC zoo

 

[kevantheman35]

they live pretty deep if i remember right i wonder if the difference in pressure is a huge issue

 

[richpoolboy]

my lfs just had one, it made it about a week then died. I think everybody's points are valid deep water, cold water and best left in the ocean.

 

[Octoshark]

my lfs just had one, it made it about a week then died. I think everybody's points are valid deep water, cold water and best left in the ocean.

There is no reason why any LFS should ever have a nautilus. Those should be kept in the wild (except for public aquariums with professional biologists of course).

 

[10001110101]

There is no reason why any LFS should ever have a nautilus. Those should be kept in the wild (except for public aquariums with professional biologists of course).

shoulds and buts candy nuts

 

[wooden_reefer]

Seen them in public aq.

Don't know if it is on an open system or if they live long.

Very nice and neat looking.

 

[elegance coral]

I have seen animals being kept in horrible conditions at public aquariums. I know several hobbyist I'd rather see an animal like this with than some public aquariums. The assumption that some of these more delicate animals would receive a better quality of life at a public aquarium than with some of the more dedicated hobbyists, is a false one. I agree that these animals aren't for everyone. I wouldn't purchase one myself, but I see no reason why a hobbyist thats done their homework and has the ability to care for one, should be deprived of obtaining one. I certainly don't think a public aquarium that has a marine biologist walk by the tank once a day and has volunteers or minimum wage employees actually pulling the maintenance on the system, would be able to care for the animal any better than those specialized hobbyist.

 

[rihanssu]

if you have a huge tank and a big chiller like a lobster tank i think it would be doable, people keep the japanese deepwater crabs and isopods with some longevity

 

[Blayz77]

just saw one of these a couple days ago in a LFS, pretty cool lookin.

 

[snorvich]

There is no reason why any LFS should ever have a nautilus. Those should be kept in the wild (except for public aquariums with professional biologists of course).

And this would suggest to me that this LFS is not to be trusted with advice. If they do something so totally irresponsible, think what they would advise in order to sell animals to you.

 

[L8 2 RISE]

Check the cephalopod forum for info on these. A thread about them just popped up. Unless you're dedicated, it's a nono, and DEFINITELY a nono for LFS's