The Amazon page of the product itself says: "There is no feeding or water changes required. The average life span is between 2 and 3 years"
I’ve been waiting to share this idea with someone... since im single AF and no SD, let me put you on this nice gift.
Its called “shrimp bowl aquarium” its 45 dollars on amazon. Its a sphere with baby shrimps inside. You dont have to feed them or change the water and they should last for years. It looks very nice and fancy. Get him shrimp pets and he will be shook. That is a unique and thoughtful gift. Best wishes !!❤️
Or you can buy him gummy bears 🐻😂
EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecosystem, Sphere https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IZOB5M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_iZjAFbF4KTP8E
Species fall into niches and develop ecological status-quos though, which I think is what most ecological worry is about. It is very interesting though to realize that the system isn't self-contained. I like those ecosphere things, but I always found them a little misleading. They seem to represent a self-contained system, a circle of life that is a complex perpetual motion machine, but in reality it only works because of a constant influx of energy.
As far as conservation goes, I don't know if I would have cared if I got to see do-dos, but I'd feel like a dick if I deprived future generations of some of the cool stuff this planet has to offer. I'd feel worse if I contributed toward the particular undoing of humanity.
When I was a kid I had one of these with little shrimps... until I brought it to school for show and tell and an adult mistook it for a snow globe.
$60 on amazon not bad
https://www.amazon.com/EcoSphere-Closed-Aquatic-Ecosystem-Sphere/dp/B005IZOB5M
Well, you can take a look at this thing And you get an idea of the ratio of plant to animal to get enough oxygen.
The next best thing in desk decoration culture!
I've wanted one of these myself since I was little, it's a tiny shrimp ecosystem: EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecosystem, Small Sphere https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IZOB5M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UopizbPNQW0QA
There's a bunch of geeky options here: http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/geeky-office-supplies/
Amazon has a cool section of interesting workspace items: https://www.amazon.com/stream/0ee129b6-20d0-4bc1-b100-5fadf9e625b3/ref=strm_theme_workspace?asCursor=WyIxLjYiLCJ0czEiLCIxNDk1MzI0ODAwMDAwIiwiIiwiUzAwMTQ6MDpudWxsIiwiUzAwMTQ6MjoxIiwiUzAwMTQ6MDotMSIsIiIsIiIsIjAiLCJzdWIxIiwiMTQ5NTMyNzQ2NDc4NiIsImhmMS...
Heavily planted tank, Walstad kind, and low bioload seems to be the key. But I'm on opposite side of that, a lot of maintenance tanks, by choice, for the sake of specific inhabitants, so no personal experience with easy to keep tanks.
But check everything with common sense before starting:
If fish, it could get sick and need treatment, possibly in hospital tank. Medications could kill biofilter, so you have to keep backup separately.
Filtration is what collects waste from water, but not removes it from the tank. You have to do that. Then all of this has to be removed from tank, or it will decompose in filter and pollute tank water. This is the only alternative to Walstad method that I know.
Overhead filter is good, but as any filter it has to be kept clean, you do the cleaning.
Water changes, 10-15 min kind: try to emulate the whole procedure by yourself before starting with tank, and time it, from lifting yourself form the arm chair and sitting in it again :) You will see.
Self balanced tank idea in general: it could become so, but you have to set this balance by setup, kind of plants, kind of lights and photoperiod. And restore the balance when things get out of control, this could happen anytime.
Fish, even the same species, could get aggressive on each other, extremely ugly situation, was in it before and wowed never again.
Snails are poo factories and most of them reproduce fast and need to be caught and removed.
Summary:
EcoSphere and how to keep it seems to be the closest in maintenance to what you are looking for, but some call them death cells, so it's your call.
My version: anything with living creatures in water requires a lot of maintenance. I would say get a dog or cat :) they take care of themselves, with occasional maintenance, but vets are very expensive.
Name: "EcoSphere"
$60 - $410
Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/EcoSphere-Closed-Aquatic-Ecosystem-Sphere/dp/B005IZOB5M/
They've had some self-contained aquatic ecosystems with shrimp and microorganisms that they've been selling for a long time. They're supposed to last 2-3 years, but I'm sure you could make it last longer if you're willing to do occasional maintenance like you're talking about. I don't know what sort of shrimp or microorganisms they use though. I do know that if you're going to put plants in it, there will be an initial cycle where the levels nitrogen levels have to even out. It causes plant die-off, and unless you clean out the dead plant bits, it causes the nitrogen to spike more, which in turn causes more plant die-off.
Edit: If you're up for some reading, Ecology of the Planted Aquarium explains how to set up the most natural aquarium possible, without air pump, water filters, etc.
its a self contained ecosystem. just leave it in sunlight.
edit: EcoSphere
A similar idea is this ecosphere except you don't need to change the water (and can't).
awww, well it was a novel idea... What about something like this then? Its an enclosed ecosystem
There’s a teacher who keeps a beta fish in her classroom on the desk.
You can’t go wrong with gold fish. They are probably the easiest fish to care for.
If you’re looking for zero maintenance might I suggest an eco sphere. There are several on amazon. They don’t require feeding or anything but sunshine. Fluorescent offices lights will be fine. I’ve had one for almost 3 years, I like it. EcoSphere Small Sphere https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IZOB5M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Njb6CbVNJWZZN