How To Put On A Jelly Good Show In Your Aquarium
Jellyfish are among the most gentle and elegant of creatures. They may not swim around with the drama or purpose of many fish, but those encountering them in the wild will have reason to be cautious about their stings - especially in warmer countries with deadly types like the Box jellyfish in Australia or the Portuguese man of war.
Of course, if you keep them in an aquarium, you can put them safely on the other side of a piece of glass from anyone who might be harmed. But whether the variety of jellyfish you have in the tank is particularly harmful to humans or could only deliver a mild dose of pain, there is still much to be done to ensure they thrive in their captive environment.
The key thing is to note that jellyfish should usually be kept separate from other aquatic creatures, unless they are on very large tanks that enable them to keep away from each other. The jellyfish themselves will drift around rather than propelling themselves, and have neither brains nor eyes, so they are not sentient.
Not every kind of jellyfish can be kept in an aquarium. The most common kind that can is the moon jellyfish, a type that lives in tropical seas, although it will prefer a slightly lower water temperature from most aquatic creatures (12-18 C). They are conveniently small, only growing to a maximum of 12 inches across.
Moon jellyfish are very common and have been known to breed in captivity. They are also one of the least poisonous, although you should still use a glove if you do have to put your hands in the water to manage the aquarium.
The type of aquarium tank is a vital consideration. Jellyfish can get trapped in the corners of square tanks, which is why a rounded tank is much better for them.
Your marine accessories should include a specialised water flow and filter system, as standard pumps and filters can trap jellyfish. What is vital, however, is you have a flow system to keep them moving, as they have no method of self-propulsion. The tank will also need cleaning on a weekly basis.
Jellyfish also need bright light to live. The best way to provide this is to have lights at the top shining down into the water, as of course the sun does in the wild.
Feeding jellyfish is an area that requires plenty of attention, as they have large appetites - despite not having any stomachs. Plankton and shrimp are the standard diet in the ocean and while these can be bought, you can also get some and breed / grow them yourself if you have other tanks.
If looked after well, the average jellyfish lives for about a year. Theirs will not be a life of drama, happiness, sadness or any sentient feeling, but one of serene drifting while consuming various small creatures that come across their path. They are, nonetheless, a fascinating and extraordinary kind of creature, one that was here before the dinosaurs and whose appeal never fades.