Jellyfish As Pets

A Jellyfish is a soft-shelled marine creature with a body like an umbrella and trailing tentacles. Not a creature you would consider keeping as a pet. Almost certainly, that was once the case. There were not many people or institutions that had the knowledge or the know-how to even consider keeping , not to mention the finances.

Nowadays, you can purchase the necessary equipment to keep jellyfish at almost any pet care store or on-line. However, these are not the easiest of creatures to keep as a pet. Specialized equipment, care and attention are required along with the correct food for the species you are keeping.

Really, the first requirement is research. Check out the type of jellyfish you want to keep. Find out where to safely buy it from. Look at its dietary requirements, water temperature required for the species, any special habitat requirements. Jellyfish are extremely delicate creatures and cannot be treated with anything less than the most careful of handling; attention to detail is crucial.

Once you have done your research, the next step is to purchase the correct equipment to provide your new pet with a satisfactory and safe environment. Try to use specialized stores for this as they will have everything you need. It is essential that you have the correct type of aquarium and filtration system; anything less will be detrimental to the health of the jellyfish and may even cause premature death.

The most important part of keeping a jellyfish as a pet is the tank set-up. If this is not correct, or you introduce the fish to the water too quickly it will almost certainly mean instant death. Being delicate creatures and easily damaged, their new environment must mimic exactly the conditions they thrive in the wild. Again, research is vital to this part of your project. The type of aquarium and filtration system is important, along with following the instructions for setting up this equipment properly. Water condition is of utmost importance. The temperature must be correct, along with the water itself. Don't forget that jellyfish are marine creatures and must have salt water. You can make your own but it is best to purchase the water from your supplier as it will already contain the correct salinity levels.

Your aquarium will need to be running for at least a week before you introduce your jellyfish. This is to ensure that all the components of the aquarium are working properly. Now is the time to start adding what is known as helpful bacteria to your tank. Jellyfish waste is full of ammonia and, without the bacteria to break it down will quickly poison and kill the fish. There are a couple of ways to do this. One is to have a live fish in the tank. This kick-starts the bacteria growing in the tank but must be removed before your jelly is added. Some shops supply starter kits to enable this process without using a live fish and some jellyfish suppliers will now supply live rock with the fish which contains the helpful bacteria.

Now is the time to be looking at lighting for the aquarium. A light set-up for a marine tank is ideal as they do not give out much heat and the light is florescent. Jellyfish are at their best in the dark - remember, they live in the sea, normally in the deeper parts where it is dark. A good fluorescent light will enable your jellyfish to glow spectacularly, especially if the tank is located in a dark area of the room.

Congratulations. You are now ready to introduce your jellyfish to its new home. If the setup of the aquarium has been done correctly and the right diet for your fish obtained, you will find keeping a very rewarding hobby.

To learn more about how to keep jellyfish, go to the Lifestyles100 web site where you will find more articles and information.

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The Jellyfish Aquarium

Jellyfish are 95% water, coated in a thin membrane. Because of this they are extremely delicate creatures and, to keep them in captivity requires specialised equipment. is a specific type of tank required to create a safe environment for your new pet.

A jellyfish aquarium must not be square or rectangular, like an ordinary fish tank. The ideal shape is cylindrical, capable of holding at least eight to ten gallons of water. Because of the soft make-up of a jellyfish there must not be any sharp edges or corners for them to get stuck in. Once the soft membrane coating the body is punctured the jellyfish will liquefy and die.

The idea of was first thought of back in 1969 by a German marine Biologist, Dr Greve. Since then the concept has come along in leaps and bounds and now we are faced with a multitude of shapes and sizes, stand-alone tanks or complete kits. You could even make your own aquarium if you so desired.

The cylindrical shape is ideal, not just for the safety of the creature but because it is the ideal shape within which to mimic the natural environment of a jellyfish. As well as shape and size, in order to create this environment the correct filtration and circulation system is also required. Almost all different types of aquarium are based upon this shape.

The environment within the aquarium needs to be as near as possible to the jelly fish' natural environment. Bear in mind that these creatures are sea dwellers; plenty of space and moving water. To keep them in captivity requires a similar setup on a much smaller scale.

Some aquariums are sold as complete kits, including the filtration and circulation system. Water filtration is important; the ammonia in jellyfish waste will very quickly poison the water and your pet will die. Water circulation is as important. The water in an aquarium must swirl gently around the outside edge in order to keep the jellyfish suspended in the center of the tank.

The ideal type of aquarium, although not the cheapest is called a Kreisel. These have separate inlet and outlets for water, instead of just one performing both jobs. The water has to be pushed into the tank gently, producing a light surf-like motion. It also has to be pulled out of the tank gently so as not to pull the jellyfish against the filters. Think of a gentle wash-cycle in your washing machine. The water goes in gently and goes out gently without sucking the clothes against the drum. Conversely, the water in the tank should not be still as a jellyfish relies in the movement, or current, to get around and to feed.

Another type of aquarium is the jellyquarium. This a complete system setup and includes all the filtration, circulation, thermostats, water cleaning system and chilling system required for the correct care of jellyfish in captivity. Again, not the cheapest outfit but probably by far the most suitable. These are specifically designed only for jellyfish and will produce the most lifelike scenario and conditions for the survival of the creature.

As you can see, this is not an easy hobby and you will be faced with a monumental choice of designs and types of aquarium and systems. Choosing the right one will be a difficult decision and will require a great deal of research into the breed of jellyfish you will be keeping, their environment and the cost of running such a system as a hobby. Choosing the wrong type of jellyfish aquarium will result in almost certain death for the jellyfish.

To learn more about how to keep jellyfish, go to the Lifestyles100 web site where you will find more articles and information. You can also pick up the new book, "Jellyfish As Pets - A Beginner's Guide" for the Kindle at Amazon.com or the Nook book at Barns and Noble.

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