What is nautilus? Would it be possible to have nautilus as pets?

The nautilus is a mollusk that uses jet propulsion to roam the ocean deep. Writers, artists, and engineers have long marveled at the nautilus's beauty and swimming abilities. The chambered or pearly nautilus is a cephalopod (a type of mollusk)—a distant cousin to squids, octopi, and cuttlefish.

A nautilus swims using jet propulsion, expelling water from its mantle cavity through a siphon located near its head. By adjusting the direction of the siphon, a nautilus can swim forward, backward or sideways.

Nautiluses are unique among other cephalopods, though, because they have hard outer shells that help protect them from predators. Unlike other cephalopods, nautiluses are relatively long-lived, reaching ages of 15 to 20 years, or more.

Would it be possible to have nautilus as pets?

Unfortunately no cephalopod does good as a pet for anyone but an expert or zoo/aquarium. Although octopus and cuttlefish are poor captives, nautilus are bad for completely different reasons. They need a chiller and often bob up and down as movement, so a large, refrigerated, cylindrical tank would be needed.

Firstly, it’s not so easy to come by a nautilus. A nautilus is not exactly a goldfish or a canary, which are available at almost every pet shop in the world.

Nautiluses occur in very few places of our planet, namely in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the tropical seas of Australia.

They are deep-sea inhabitants and prefer water temperatures below 25 °C (75 °F), so even if you are on a diving vacation in these places, it is highly unlikely to spot one at a depth of less than 90 feet.

Overfishing and excessive trade of the nautilus shell has led to a dramatic decrease of the nautilus’ populations. Fishermen (especially in Philippines) took advantage of their ability to smell food from great distances and used to trap dozens of animals with ease using any kind of meat-bait.

Therefore, even though the nautilus is an extremely beautiful and interesting marine creature, it should be left unharmed in nature, where it can reproduce and prosper.

Of course, if you want a nautilus as a pet, our stuffed nautilus plush toy can be the perfect substitute!

Check Our Product: Stuffed Nautilus Plush Toy