A little history might help understand the forum's organization and recording of exotics. Some years ago we had a major ethics split of opinion about animals that, for reasons of care and safety, caused us to visit how to handle journaling of certain species. Some groups wanted all ceph keeping open while others wanted no journaling of exotics. After much discussion, @tonmo came up with a compromise and created the exotics forum to allow posting of animals that
a) were dangerous to keep (aka blue ring octopuses)
b) should not be collected because of unknown numbers in the wild AND unsuccessful aquarium confinement or reproduction (aka Thaumoctopus mimicus, Wunderpus photogenicus, nautiluses). This forum is restricted to members (ie you must be signed in to see it) and will not show up on a Google scan but still allows unrestricted member posting.
As a general rule of thumb, we are pretty heavy handed on the blue rings (because of safety) and would highly prefer they be reported on from labs rather than individuals, allowing information and photos but limiting potential lethal accidents. Most individuals don't continue their journals because of the gentle discouragement.
Wunderpus and mimics don't reproduce successful young in an aquarium so the argument of propagating a potentially declining species has no merit at least until we can devise successful ways of growing out more common small egg octopuses. Like the blue rings we dissuade keeping them but, not unlike Doggy, occasionally members come across one that is going to die if someone without experience does not acquire the animal. Many of these are given to the members (free or at cost) because they were fill items that were not ordered.
Nautiluses fall into the category of unknown numbers but suspected declining counts in the wild (as @gjbarord is studying), lack of successful long term aquarium survival (2 years tops in most aquariums but with an expected 20+ year life expectancy in the wild). Over collection for the aquarium industry is not the focus of the decline and the current excessive take is for shells without regard to husbandry. Reproduction has occurred in large public facilities but survival of the offspring (as of my last reading, this may be more successful now) has not been accomplished.
The unfortunate thinking (unfortunate because it is true but wished otherwise) is that if these animals are ordered and die without being purchased, it will discourage collection. For keepers, the choice is always hard and not always consistent. It is my personal hope that when we chose to go against our better judgment (or acquire one of these animals without profit to the seller) that they get journaled for the full lifespan.
a) were dangerous to keep (aka blue ring octopuses)
b) should not be collected because of unknown numbers in the wild AND unsuccessful aquarium confinement or reproduction (aka Thaumoctopus mimicus, Wunderpus photogenicus, nautiluses). This forum is restricted to members (ie you must be signed in to see it) and will not show up on a Google scan but still allows unrestricted member posting.
As a general rule of thumb, we are pretty heavy handed on the blue rings (because of safety) and would highly prefer they be reported on from labs rather than individuals, allowing information and photos but limiting potential lethal accidents. Most individuals don't continue their journals because of the gentle discouragement.
Wunderpus and mimics don't reproduce successful young in an aquarium so the argument of propagating a potentially declining species has no merit at least until we can devise successful ways of growing out more common small egg octopuses. Like the blue rings we dissuade keeping them but, not unlike Doggy, occasionally members come across one that is going to die if someone without experience does not acquire the animal. Many of these are given to the members (free or at cost) because they were fill items that were not ordered.
Nautiluses fall into the category of unknown numbers but suspected declining counts in the wild (as @gjbarord is studying), lack of successful long term aquarium survival (2 years tops in most aquariums but with an expected 20+ year life expectancy in the wild). Over collection for the aquarium industry is not the focus of the decline and the current excessive take is for shells without regard to husbandry. Reproduction has occurred in large public facilities but survival of the offspring (as of my last reading, this may be more successful now) has not been accomplished.
The unfortunate thinking (unfortunate because it is true but wished otherwise) is that if these animals are ordered and die without being purchased, it will discourage collection. For keepers, the choice is always hard and not always consistent. It is my personal hope that when we chose to go against our better judgment (or acquire one of these animals without profit to the seller) that they get journaled for the full lifespan.
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