Moon Jellyfish and Jellyfish in general

[Jessy.]

I've been looking around for information on jellyfish and buying jellyfish and have had not much luck other than Jelliaquarium (which is great but I just wanted more info). Especially with searching "jellyfish" here on RC. So I thought I'd start a thread for anyone that wants to know more information.

For starters I found Nancy at sunset marine labs http://sunsetmarinelabs.com/

She is luckily (near) local to me, only two hours away. I met her at IMAC West a few weeks ago and went to her facilities. She actually has a lab that breeds moon jellyfish. It was really neat to see. She's got babies and adults. She's also making a proprietary frozen jellyfish food. Talking to her I could tell she really cares about her little jellies. Not just some fish farm for lack of a better explanation. The facilities were clean and tidy.

Anyway long story short she sells tanks, jellyfish, and food to the public. Its worth giving her a call if you're at all interested in keeping these in your home.

Shortly after I took a trip over to the Long Beach aquarium and snapped some decent pics of the jellies there.

Moon Jelly

And I have to edit the other ones. But I'll post them up soon.

Hope you find the info useful.

 

[Elysia]

Two links:

http://jellieszone.com/captivejellies.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/7/aafeature2

 

[Snail-po]

my dad had a jellyfish once....a brittle star ate it....

 

[Jessy.]

Thanks for the links Elysia. Sorry for the delayed response I've been without a computer for over a while. But I'm back now

 

[Elysia]

Ugh, I know how that can be. No problem -- those are in my favorites and are my "go-to" links when someone asks about these guys, since it can be tough to find reliable info on some of the more delicate inverts out there.

 

[aandon]

Jellyfish Art is another resource for jelly-keeping. They keep live jellyfish in stock and offer several products made just for jellyfish, like a frozen food and automatic feeder for this food.www.jellyfishart.com

 

[JLopez]

I've been researching this as well and I was wondering about a few things. I stumbled across a web site that said that upside down jellyfish can be kept in rectangular tank. This contradicts everything I have read about them. Does anyone know if this is true?

Also, I was wondering if it would be possible to use a rectangular tank and round off the inside corners to make it like an oval. does anyone think this could work?

any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[aandon]

Yes, you can keep upside down jellyfish in a rectangular tank because they just sit upside down on the bottom instead of swimming around. They have symbiotic photosynthetic algae living in their tentacles, which they expose to sunlight by sitting on the bottom. They are more like a sea anemone than a jellyfish. HOWEVER, occasionally they get up and swim around, so you have to guard your intakes so the jellies don't get sucked into them. You can use a mesh guard so there is not single strong point of suction.

Yes, you can use a rectangular tank and round off the corners. You can use silicone to hold the whole contraption together.

This book is really good:
http://www.jellyfishart.com/How-to-Keep-Jellyfish-in-Aquariums-Book-p/bk106.htm
It's geared towards the do-it-yourself hobbyist type of person, so he tells you how to make a jellyfish tank out of an old cooler and use "plastic army men instead of bioballs." Gotta love that

 

[Western_reefer]

There are some species of jellyfish that require high lighting such as MH's as they are photosynthetic like corals. Jellyfish require specialized aquariums. Oval or circle shaped aquariums and needs a specialized type of flow pattern, too strong flow and it will smash them against the glass which will lead to death. Not too many people/stores carry jellyfish. I was one out of a hand full of people that keep jellyfish in California. Specialized aquariums are EXTREMELY expensive, like $5,000+ for a 50 gallon tank unless if you build one yourself. The easiest out of all the jellyfish are the Moon Jellyfish. But they require a VERY VERY large specialized aquarium as they get 12-14 inches in diameter and they need a chilled aquarium, in the 55F-60F range. I'd say the second easiest jellyfish to keep is the Upside down Jellyfish. They are photosynthetic like corals so they will need MH lighting. They don't really require specialized aquariums. A regular square aquarium with very, very well covered intake pipes will work. They need very low flow and a very soft fine sand bed with no rock, corals, or plants or anything. Just a tank with a clear sand bed. They are called the Upside down jellyfish because they will swim down and stay on the sand bed upside down collecting light, they don't move around a hole lot like other jellyfish, so they aren't as popular. Here are a few pictures of the Upside down jellyfish. Upside down don't require a chiller as they come from tropical waters such as Florida.

Here are a few pictures of the Moon Jellyfish. These guys require chilled water as they come from the Californian cost.

If you are very serious about getting into jellyfish. I'd suggest you do LOTS LOTS of reading before you start, here are a few links to get you started. I HIGHLY suggest you get the book called: How to Keep Jellyfish in Aquariums: An Introductory Guide for Maintaining Healthy Jellies By Chad L. Widmer

You can get it from Amazon for $21.
http://www.amazon.com/How-Keep-Jelly.../dp/160494126X


http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/jellyfish/moon.php
http://jellieszone.com/captivejellies.htm


I do have access to several species of jellyfish such as: Moon Jellyfish, Comb Jelly fish, Gooseberry Jellyfish, Sea Nettle Jellyfish, Crystal Jellyfish, Cross Jellyfish, Chrysaora fuscescens, Lion's Mane Jellyfish, Purple-striped Jellyfish, Egg-yolk Jellyfish, Sea Walnut Jellyfish, you name it. I would keep Jellyfish again if my parents let me have a chiller, and another large tank. LOL I do have most of the materials and the know how to make a specialized Jellyfish aquarium.

Jellyfish keeping is the new frontier in the aquarium hobby.

 

[Western_reefer]

Here are a few pictures of my Jelly fish. Its a Red Eye Medusa, Scientific Name: Polyorchis pencillatus. It requires a cold water, 55F-60F.

More to come...

 

[Western_reefer]

Here are a few pictures of the jellyfish eating the guppy.
Got caught.

It its belle!

Here is a FTS. I wasn't happy with the design, need to upgrade it a bit.

 

[Western_reefer]

Caught a Ghost Shrimp.

 

[Western_reefer]

The guppy and shrimp were too large, I wouldn't suggest feeding such large prey. The BEST food is baby brine shrimp, krill, mysis, and copeez.


Here are a few videos.







The jellyfish should NOT touch the glass walls or bottom at all, it sank because of the shrimp as it weighs too much for the jellyfish.

 

[JLopez]

Thats a cool set up western. How big is that jelly? it looks pretty small when compared to the shrimp and guppy. tank specs?

 

[Western_reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15737243#post15737243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JLopez
Thats a cool set up western. How big is that jelly? it looks pretty small when compared to the shrimp and guppy. tank specs?

Thanks! Its very small, the body is no larger than 1.5 inches. The tank is a regular 10 gallon.

 

[JLopez]

I've been trying to find a site that sells them online all day...How can I get a hold of one?

 

[Western_reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15739503#post15739503 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JLopez
I've been trying to find a site that sells them online all day...How can I get a hold of one?

Here you go.
http://www.jelliquarium.com/

 

[aandon]

or here: http://www.jellyfishart.com

 

[JLopez]

those little blue jellies are pretty cool...but that desktop bowl they have is ridiculous. $250? they have the same one at petsmart for like $100. anyway, thanks for the links guys.

 

[johnatan2007]

Western Reefer- what did you do to the tank? you said ita a 10g but is the shape of a hexagon. An explanation of your tank would be greatly appreciated. TY