Clicking for Critters-
Live Animals on Ebay
Ebay is known for being a resource for getting things you cannot find just anywhere. But have you ever thought of looking on Ebay for live animals? Even if you are not in the market for a live animal it is fascinating to see what can be ordered online or how people have managed to create a business out of the culturing of certain species for purposes ranging from food to friendship. There are no cats, dogs, or bunnies for sale because Ebay does not allow selling of "pets". This is probably because most "items" will need to be shipped and there is just no practical or ethical way to, say ship a live bird or a sugar glider. So there are no live mammals, but there is an extensive variety of fish because of their likelihood to survive the shipping process. Another way around the issue of shipping live animals is to sell eggs. There were fish eggs, bird eggs, insect eggs, even Chameleon eggs! From there it even gets a little stranger. I will show you what I found on an arbitrary day of looking for live animals on Ebay. Remember this was just a snapshot, this is not a fixed catalog. Everyday there will be new or different things to discover on Ebay. If I looked again today I might find something even stranger.
Here are two varieties of Bass on separate listings. I was surprised to see Bass because, being a game fish, they are generally not kept in tanks. Though some hobbyists keep game ponds. The first one has striking red coloration on it. The other is more drab in appearance, but still an impressive fish. The photos appear to be of adult fish. The first listing is selling them in 2-3 inch range. The second listing offers the Azul Peacock Bass in 5" and 10" sizes approximately. The seller cannot guarantee the sex of the fish. The seller claims this is the first time that the Azul Peacock Bass is being bred in the united states.
Here is a listing for an unusual and colorful Chameleon that you hatch in your home. The auction includes an incubator for the egg which keeps it between 60 and 80 degrees. After the eggs hatch, the baby Chameleons can be moved to their new home, an enclosure you provide. The seller states that this method of hatching the eggs in your home is far less stressful then shipping a baby or bringing a baby Chameleon home from a store or trade meet. The listing boasts the value of buying a 65 dollar egg versus paying 200 dollars or more for a Chameleon baby. You would also miss out on the truly unique experience of watching it hatch and open its eyes for the first time. The seller states they have been shipping eggs around the country for 6 years and claims to have a high 95%-plus hatch rate. The seller is also promising to offer support and advice for years to come. This species is the Ambilobe Panther Chameleon capable of brilliant coloring. The seller has several other varieties for sale that are all just as beautiful.
Its not that unusual to find a Betta fish on Ebay, after all they are popular, sturdy, and colorful fish that are highly likely to survive the shipping process. Also called Japanese Fighting Fish, these fish are best kept alone and can survive in relatively small tanks without a filtration system. Above is an attractive species called the Black Green Dragon. The second auction actually is not for a complete Betta fish "kit" like I initially mistook it to be. The listing instead is selling Anacharis and Mangrove plants to be used in a Betta tank. These plants, when added to a Betta tank, helps to reduce the amount of toxic nitrates and phosphates in the water. The water plants will also put oxygen into the water and provide a natural habitat for your Betta. You will see improvements in water quality and have to do water changes much less frequently.
Some of these fish listings are for "lots" (large quantities) that can be used to stock ponds or for Aquaponics. Aquaponics is a system of using a tank where fish are kept, the waste the fish produce is pumped and filtered over a bed that can be planted with vegetables or plants. The fish waste becomes fertilizer to the plants and the plants filter and clean the water for the fish. This efficient system can be used by anyone who wants to grow food (meat and vegetables at the same time) in a small space. This model can even be implemented indoors. The idea is gaining steam as people become more interested in where their food comes from, as well as an interest in being more self reliant. Time will tell if this is the future or just a fad. Tilapia is the current darling of the Aquaponics movement because they grow and breed incredibly fast and are remarkably resilient. They can be farmed for food and their skin can actually be used for leather all the while contributing their waste to an Aquaponic system. In fact we found some Tilapia pelts on Ebay dyed in various colors (see an example above). They are also kept simply as pets. This auction being a lot of fifty is likely for the Aquaponics customer. These Blue Tilapia is also known as Israeli Tilapia. The largest official Blue Tilapia was almost 18 inches in length! The male and female show differing coloration when breeding with the males head turning a brighter blue and the female showing orange on her dorsal fins and tail.
This prehistoric looking fish was on Ebay in several varieties, it is aptly named Dinosaur Birchir. This variety is a pale white or pink, making it look like an albino, but lacking the characteristic red eyes. Also called a Dinosaur Eel, this fish has a reptilian appearance and it's pectoral and pelvic fins even resemble appendages with feet.
This beautiful saltwater coral looks like something from a psychedelic blacklight poster. Corals, though plant-like, do not make their own food like plants. They are animals that feed on various things they find in the water like zooplankton.
These colorful freshwater shrimp are around 1/4" in size. The seller urges not bid if your weather is below 70-90 degrees. Sellers and buyers alike want to make sure these animals survive the journey to their homes.
An Electric Blue Crayfish, this genetic mutation is similar to albino-ism. Breeders have been able to isolate this trait and produce them in greater quantities. They have become quite popular in the aquarium trade where they are usually called Blue Lobsters. The aquarium trade is known for changing names of animals, in a way, it is marketing.
An new mutation? These cute little crayfish look just like tiny cooked lobsters. A bright color could be fatal in the real world because you would stand out to predators, but bright beautiful colors are desired (and bred) for the aquarium trade.
This fresh water Giant Blue Wood Shrimp does not have the familiar pincers like that of a Lobster or Crayfish. This crustacean is sometimes called Vampire Shrimp because the two largest front legs have tiny points that apparently reminded someone of fangs, but these are not ominous appendages, just used for walking and climbing and possibly self defense. They are actually a type of fan shrimp that has specialized fan-like sifters (not visible in this photo) that extend from below the mouth and filter small particulates out of the tank improving the water quality at the same time that it feeds itself. In a well established tank you may not even need to feed the shrimp specifically as it may find what it needs to eat in the water. If the shrimp does not appear to be getting enough food you can use a baster to squirt zoo and phytoplankton near the shrimp while it is exhibiting feeding behavior. They are nocturnal and like lots of places to hide during the day.
This auction is for 3 horseshoe crabs. These little crabs are known for sifting and stirring up gravel on the aquarium floor. They are approximately 1/4" and larger. Up to 3" in diameter. These unique creatures will bring life and movement to an aquarium reef system.
A listing for Bullfrog Tadpole. At this stage the tadpoles are purely aquatic, but as they turn into a frog they will soon need an environment that has land and water. These bullfrogs can be expected to be around 4 to 6 inches.
Here is an attractive variety of Killifish it does not seem to have a common name. It is know by it scientific name Spectrolebias chacoensis (which sounds like a Harry Potter spell). This fish is being sold in the form of eggs. They have an incubation period can be as long as 8-10 months or longer so one must be patient. The eggs are very small about 0.6 mm but are quite hardy.
Tripos are a curious critter that are known for their prehistoric appearance. They actually are prehistoric! Some species are found in fossils hundreds of millions of years old. Triops are freshwater crustaceans and sometimes called Tadpole Shrimp. To my eyes they look similar to Horseshoe Crabs, and certainly they are both crustaceans. The name Triops refers to its three eyes. It has two prominent dark eyes on the top middle of the head that almost touch with a third in the middle above. Similar to sea monkeys on steroids, these creatures can quickly hatch from dry dormant eggs and grow to 3 inches. This fast growth is emblematic of their remarkably short life spans. The longest they can live is three months but it is usually much shorter. Triops are easy to feed in that they will eat most anything organic. This auction comes with Triops baby food 200 Triops eggs hatch within 24-48 hours. The seller ships worldwide and hatching is guaranteed! Their eggs a can be dry and dormant for hundreds of years. Below is a video that supposedly explains the process of making your triops grow supernaturally large through radiation!?
Note that while all the other fish in listings are photographed from the side, the Koi are shown from the top. This is because they are likely to live in a pond, and therefor be viewed and enjoyed from above. The estimated value of this fish according to the seller, is 500 dollars. The seller relates the similarities between Koi linage and dog breeds. The parents of the fish offered here have championship titles. Fish winning national Koi shows in Japan can be worth an astonishing 300,000 dollars. This fish is offered with a delivery guarantee. The type of Koi is called Showa.
This gorgeous fish with a hefty price tag is is a kind of Flowerhorn. The male of the species has a large bubble-like bump on its head called a kok or a nuchal hump. While this hump may be desired by some hobbyist, I feel the nuchal hump is ugly and this female looks great without it! There are many variations of the Flowerhorn Cichlid with grandiose names like Tornado Effect, Perfect Harmony, Absolute Wonder, Ancient Warship, Living Legend and Scarlet Passion to name a few.
Fifteen tadpoles that will yield mystery frogs and toads. This would be a great exercise for a classroom, how fascinating. I hope I get a peeper.
Mudskipper anyone?
Here are some creepy crawlers or should I say writhers? These worms are obviously not meant as pets (unless you are a psychopath). They are great food to other pets or can be used as live bait. The worm actually turns into a drab colored Wax Moth.
This is a cool looking Cichlid that also does not have a common name. While scientific names can be tongue-twisters they ensure that both the buyer and seller are talking about the same species. Especially since common names can be misleading or a single fish may have several arbitrary common names. This fish may be new to the hobby and a proper common name may be in the works for it. The name Paratheraps Coatzacoalcos refers to the Coatzacoalcos river system in Mexico where it is found in the wild.
These little guys are great for cleaning algae in ponds or aquariums. These Trapdoor Snails are live bearers and the mother gives birth to tiny little snails, shell and all. Parents, if exceptionally hungry, have been known to eat their young.
This auction is for 6 eggs of this rare and striking variety of Quail called the Snowflake Bobwhite. This is a gamebird so it can be eaten, it also will produce edible eggs, or can be kept as a pet. This is a recently recognized variation, the first Snowflake mutation (a reference to its coloring) was born as recently as 2004. The eggs take between 20-23 days to hatch. These small but round birds can grow to about 8-11 inches and weigh in up to 7 ounces. The beautiful black and white feathers have been used in jewelry making.
I was curious about the likelihood of insects or spiders being sold on Ebay. I thought perhaps I might find a Tarantula or even some Butterfly chrysalis. Turns out there were not very many insects, especial ones of substance (size). I did find these Walking Sticks and a couple of Praying Mantises. The first auction here is for Vietnamese Stick insects that will hatch within three months. These insects will live around a year, they breed efficiently, asexually, and can lay 2-3 eggs. While the the auction states that they are great pets, the seller also makes clear that they are being sold as feeder food to comply with Ebay regulations. These insects reach their maximum size at around seven months and about 6 inches long. They eat leaves and excrete odorless droppings! Once you decide that enough eggs have hatched, you need to euthanize the remainder of the eggs: gather the contents of the bedding, including the eggs and droppings, and heat it in microwave for 1 minute or place in freezer overnight, and then discard. Failing to do this means the eggs might hatch in the garbage can! The other auction is for a live Chinese Mantis Oothecae (egg case) like a cocoon but may contain hundreds or thousands of babies. This Oothecae will hatch 50-100 babies. They are expected to hatch 2-3 weeks after the egg case arrives at your home. The Mantis babies will eat Fruit Flies and Pin Head Crickets. Some use these in their yards to control pest insects as they eat really anything they can catch. The adult Mantises will eat Bees, Ants, Crickets, and Mosquitoes. The Chinese Mantis is green and or brown in color and the largest mantis found in North America at up to 5 inches long.
I'm told these are chickens. Actually the first auction is for a chicken variation that is called Silkie. It looks like a chicken was bred with a Pomeranian. These fancy chicken variants have feathers that are fluffy. Aside from the fluffy plumage these chickens have other strange characteristics. These chickens have black skin and bones and their earlobes are blue. They also have five toes instead of the standard four for a chicken. While the the top one is a Silky, I'm not sure what the bottom one is since the auction seems to be for a variety of breed possibilities. The one pictured does not appear to be a silky. They like dogs with unique breed expressions, these fancy chickens are shown in competitive shows. They are known as friendly and make good pets. The hens are affectionate caring mothers. and are sometimes used to incubate other species eggs.
This auction is for 8+ Black East Indie Duck Hatching Eggs. These eggs apparently are tricky to hatch the seller admits. These ducks are very striking looking with their iridescent green and blue shimmer over a black base color. The seller asks that you leave feedback after the eggs arrive not after the eggs hatch. This is likely so that you wont leave negative feedback for eggs that do not hatch which is ultimately not really the sellers fault. The sellers obligation ends once the eggs arrive undamaged assuming they are fertile. Duck eggs are considered by many foodies as a delicacy, with their deep yellow yolks and rich taste transforming some basic recipes into a feast. But both the Food Standards Agency and the Health Protection Agency issued warnings about the potential dangers of duck eggs, which because of their more permeable shells they can be increasingly infected if the bird is carrying Salmonella then chicken of other fowl eggs. So while duck eggs purportedly improve the taste of dishes calling for chicken eggs they may ultimately not be worth the risk.
These are Sargassum Triggers, a kind of saltwater fish. It reaches about 5 inches in length and is smaller then other Triggerfish which makes it a good aquarium fish. The trigger also called Red Tail Trigger is mostly purple with dark spots on its sides and dark markings on fins and tail. this friendly fish makes a great pet but, requires a 125 or larger aquarium with lots of rocks and caves for hiding. Do not be surprised if this fish constantly redecorates the tank. It can make a grunting sound. I used to think the Triggerfish was named so because it can shoot powerful projections of water to move rocks and gravel, not so. It is named Triggerfish because of two spikes on its dorsal fin, one can lock down on the other and allows it to hide securely wedged in a crevice.
Up for Ebay a beautiful saltwater Atlantic Blue Tang. In the wild this fish utilizes holes and crevices to feel safe from predators. It is active in the day and may hide at night so the tank you provide it should have lots of hiding spots. The fish can be aggressive and should not be housed with other Tangs. The Tang likes to eat throughout the day so it could be fed as often as possible. It will eat naturally occurring algae as well as fresh or dried algae flakes or pellets. It changes color over its lifespan from yellow to blue as it matures. It prefers a warm tank around 77-82 degrees.
Zooplankton is a classification that encompasses a wide variety of animals that drifts in water. Most are very small like this tropic pod but some can be larger like Jellyfish. They are an excellent nutritious food source for lots of saltwater aquarium fish, corals, and other filter feeders. Once a colony is established in your tank there will be a constant renewable food source similar to in the ecosystem in place in the wild. They work as micro cleanup crews improving water clarity.
There you have it, a quick look at a cross section of a wide variety of animals available on Ebay. After selecting the animals for this article I read through Ebays rules concerning the sale of live animals and they were a bit confusing. Ebay states that it does not allow the sale of any pets except Tropical fish, although several here obviously were intended to be pets. And who is to say that is an animal intended for food cannot be kept as a pet. Ebay states that crickets and worms can be listed for bait or food for pets. Hatching eggs are allowed provided they are shipped within the U.S. Shellfish are allowed as long as they are used for food. Snails and Slugs are allowed if aquatic and domestic. Ebay also allows the 5 type of snails that can be eaten. Ebay insists that whatever you sell, investigate and obtain the proper permitting in order to be compliant with you local laws. Ebay does not allow the sales of migratory bird eggs nor poisonous insects or sharks even small aquarium kinds.
There you have it, a quick look at a cross section of a wide variety of animals available on Ebay. After selecting the animals for this article I read through Ebays rules concerning the sale of live animals and they were a bit confusing. Ebay states that it does not allow the sale of any pets except Tropical fish, although several here obviously were intended to be pets. And who is to say that is an animal intended for food cannot be kept as a pet. Ebay states that crickets and worms can be listed for bait or food for pets. Hatching eggs are allowed provided they are shipped within the U.S. Shellfish are allowed as long as they are used for food. Snails and Slugs are allowed if aquatic and domestic. Ebay also allows the 5 type of snails that can be eaten. Ebay insists that whatever you sell, investigate and obtain the proper permitting in order to be compliant with you local laws. Ebay does not allow the sales of migratory bird eggs nor poisonous insects or sharks even small aquarium kinds.