Re: living Nautilus at Berlin

["Ernest H. Olsen" <eolsen@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Andrew K. Rindsberg wrote:
> 
> >>Presently the aquarium at Berlin (Germany) has three living specimens of
> >>Nautilus in the exhibition. Two are relatively small, the other has the
> >>size normally seen in shops that sell empty shells. They are floating
> >>nicely, open & close, stick their tentacles out, and are impressively
> >>reminding us of ammonites. A pleasure for the paleontologist who visits
> >>Berlin (as I did last weekend). In addition they have a lot of other
> >>interesting things in the aquarium (from a paleontological view), including
> >>two varieties of Axolotl in the amphibian exhibition, and a number of
> >>Limulus in an artificial intertidal environment. The Limulus are very
> >>active, including burrowing in the fine gravel.
> 
> Dear Paleontologists:  It's been educational to find out how many aquaria
> have living Nautilus on exhibit.  I would like to read more about the
> behavior of these creatures, if anyone would care to share their
> observations.
> 
> Andrew K. Rindsberg                     Telephone (205) 349-2852
> Curator, Paleontological Collection     Telefax (205) 349-2861
> Geological Survey of Alabama            <arindsberg@ogb.gsa.tuscaloosa.al.us>
> P.O. Box O
> Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-9780, USA


Dear Sir:

  I am just an electronic designer with an intrest in earth history and 
paleoecology. I would like to think that in this day and age those lucky 
few who are able to pursue their intrests, usually with some form of 
private or public support, would be a little more charitable and
supportive
in their responces to you.  Last time I visited the Scrippts aquarium
they 
also had some Nautili, but they looked sickly, possibly due to the fact
that
they spend a goodly portion of their lives at depth and not at the 1 to
10 
feet that an aquarium supplies them.

  I think that your enthusiasum should not be greeted by sarcasm and 
one-up-manship in so public a forum.  I at least hope that you will get
further
helpful responses and information from those who have already responded.
It 
would definitly be nice to display healthy specimens due to our ability
to 
keep them healthy instead of swapping out the sickly for the healthy.

Good luck in your studies.

Sincerly 

Ernest Olsen