There is a sci-fi author who gets his inspiration from the things that he surrounds himself with in his office. I have a close relative who is a famous author, and although he surrounds himself with interesting odds and ends, I've never known him to actually write about them.
But as I'm sitting here this morning, I must admit that I am exceedingly uninspired (which is rare for me). So as I was wrestling with different ideas, I looked above my computer monitor to see this Ecosphere which I got for Christmas. Now, this is just a picture of a generic Ecosphere. My particular one has less green algae but I'm too lazy to try to take the picture and post it, when this one will do just fine. We got it at Brookstone this year.
This is truthfully just a gimick. It's basically the adult version of Sea Monkeys. But the marvellous thing about it is that I have 4 tiny brine shrimp that live in there, and there's no way out or in to the Ecosphere: It's a perfectly balanced system where they get enough oxygen and food that they never need to be fed or taken care of. All they need is a little peace and quiet, and some space on a shelf so that they can stay at room temperature.
I can glance up during the day and watch the tiny shrimp spinning about their little home, harvesting food or just swimming about. They seem relatively content. I'm told that they will live for years like this.
Ahh, for the life of an encapsulated Ecospheric brine shrimp. They live in perfect comfort with no predators, no timeclocks, no irate bosses yelling at them about deadlines. And yet, it's a good thing that they have small minds. I'd go mad from it all.
8 comments:
lol, Jef!!
Saur,
so it's completely enclosed? Do they make one for toddlers? Only until she's 18.
Emma, yup! Completely! But unless it's made of plexiglass (mine is made of blown glass), I'd say it's not toddler-friendly. They also say we shouldn't shake up the shrimp. I guess it may cause Shrimp Anxiety?
Jef, I'm hungry now!
I have seen those things. I may just have to get one for my office, as soon as I get that thing back. The coolness factor is high.
I have made similar things before. You get an empty gallon jar from a deli, wash it out good, then fill it with a little mud/gravel, water, and a few sprigs of plants from a clean (as possible) canal. Add some canal water and a few canal minnows and you have your very own bio jar thing.
Same idea. You seal the jar and never open it. They last a long time. Just be careful to not put in too many minnows.
I know some guys that could use this treatment. Got a spare?
Saur,
Probably not a good idea to brag about your shrimp. It's hard to find shrimp around here. That little place off Ft. Harrison is the only place left that sells shrimp.
Excellent post.
That ecosphere is like my apartment.
I never could get brine shrimp to live more than a day or two. Now I have a cement pond, and it thrives wonderfully by being totally neglected.
Saur,
For putting her in it..not for her bookshelf. This would solve the kid's out of control problem. :o)
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