Aquarium with jellyfish: description, features of the content, recommendations and reviews

Jellyfish are graceful and spectacular marine inhabitants. Smooth movements of these animals are fascinating. Many aquarists dream of having such an unusual pet in their home. How to choose and maintain an aquarium with jellyfish, you will learn from this article.

About jellyfish

Transparent jellyfish, which we see in the sea, are only part of the life cycle of coelenterates. They are characterized by two stages: polypoid and medusoid. Adult sexually mature jellyfish reproduce sexually. The result is larvae - planulas that float in the water for several days.

The planulas attach to the substrate and are transformed into a polyp. It is noteworthy that even in a stationary stage these animals reproduce by budding. Asexual reproduction can last as long as desired, and jellyfish can appear only in favorable conditions.

When the temperature rises as a result of the process of strobili- zation, small young disk jellyfish are formed, which are called ethers. Over time, they become adults.

The body of the jellyfish is transparent, like jelly and consists of 99% water. Thus the skeleton is absent, as well as protective integuments of a body, therefore they are rather vulnerable. Their delicate body is easy to destroy. The wound can cause any dense object, even a small air bubble. Dangerous also strong current and water waves. That's why the jellyfish swim to the depth when the storm approaches.

Features of the aquarium for jellyfish

Attempts to contain jellyfish in the aquarium were carried out for a long time, but were unsuccessful. Jellyfish were too tender and sensitive pets. In an ordinary aquarium, they quickly died, and until recently it was believed that contain jellyfish at home is impossible.

However, not so long ago in the market began to appear aquarium carousel type, which allow you to keep the most sensitive animals. They were developed on research vessels that studied marine fauna. Initially, containers of this type were intended for the maintenance of plankton organisms.

The content of jellyfish at home has become possible only after the appearance of carousel aquariums on the mass market. The peculiarity of their functioning is that a closed ring-shaped water flow is created in the vessel. Such an aquarium has a round shape and resembles an outer drum of a washing machine. Do you want to buy a similar aquarium with jellyfish? The price of the smallest container starts from 50 thousand rubles.

A real Kreisel-aquarium

The carousel aquarium is in the shape of a drum. Inside, a closed water current is organized, allowing fragile creatures to move in its thickness. A stream emerges through a narrow outlet parallel to the wall, liquid is sucked through a wall protected by a dense mesh.

At the top is a lid, through which you can feed jellyfish, clean the aquarium, change the water. Down there is a drain, through which you can drain the liquid.

Pseudokreisel-Aquarium

There are psevdokaruselnye aquariums, having the form of a rectangle. In such tanks, some elements of the carousel type design are used. Closed water current is organized in the same way as in a round tank. To flow was a ring, washing all the walls of the aquarium, at the corners are installed special bumpers. In quality such aquariums are inferior to carousels, as on the direct walls the water current is disturbed, and vortices can form.

Aeration

Due to the laminar type of water circulation, jellyfish can be suspended in the entire volume of the aquarium. The speed of the water flow is important, so that the bodies of tender jellyfish are not injured. At the same time, the flow should be fast enough so that the animals do not sink to the bottom and do not get stuck in the "dead zones".

In no case should there be aeration in the aquarium with jellyfish. If the small bubbles of air get under the dome of the jellyfish, they will simply tear it apart like bullets. In an aquarium with aeration, the animal will quickly die. For jellyfish it will be enough to ensure a normal gas exchange on the water surface. And if the aeration is planned for decorative purposes, then the bubbles should be reliably separated from the main tank, where the jellyfish live.

Filtration

Filtering is also not a necessary element in the meduzyatnik. To maintain the purity of water, there will be enough regular substitution. However, it is possible to establish a simple life support system. The main thing is to protect jellyfish from sucking into filters. Biological filtration is most preferred, which does not create air bubbles. But the flotators in the aquarium with jellyfish set is not recommended, since they can become a source of deadly vesicles and too actively remove the vital substances for animals.

Jellyfish live in the open sea, where the water is somewhat poorer with dissolved and suspended substances than offshore and reefs. And in a confined space, the waste products quickly decompose, polluting the water. Therefore, timely replacement and purification of water are simply necessary.

Since jellyfish are cold water animals, the water in the aquarium needs to be cooled. Comfort temperature is 10-15 ° C, so a cooler must be built into any aquarium.

Lighting

Some species of jellyfish (Mastigias and Cassiopeia) contain symbiotic algae in their tissues. In this case, they will need lighting, so that plants can receive the light necessary for life. Other types of jellyfish lighting is not required. Animals can move towards the light, as they take it for a food source - a cluster of plankton.

Jellyfish is better kept in low light, this will prevent the appearance of green deposits on the walls. The aquarium with live jellyfish looks great with a multicolored backlight.

Where to get the inhabitants

It will not be difficult to buy an aquarium with jellyfish in the region. Moscow is no exception. Inhabitants can be bought in several shops in single copies. If you need a group of animals, then they will have to be brought to order. In other regions it is also necessary to order jellyfish separately. Most often in stores there are Cassiopeia and Mastigias. These warm water jellyfish feel great in the aquarium.

If you live by the sea, then you can catch the jellyfish yourself. Several suitable species of jellyfish, in particular eared aurelia, are found in the White and Black Seas. It should be borne in mind that the White Sea jellyfish prefer colder water. To keep captive young animals suitable for 5-10 cm in diameter, as they easily adapt to the new conditions. Freshwater jellyfish for the aquarium can be found in rivers. Catch them during the hot summer.

Transportation of jellyfish

Transport of jellyfish is a very important event. It does not matter whether you bought animals in the store or caught in the sea. If the transportation is not done correctly, the jellyfish may be injured. The animal needs to be placed in a large plastic bag or plastic form with smoothed corners, filled to the top with water. All air must be removed from the tank. If there are air bubbles in the water, they can tear the dome of the jellyfish.

How to transport jellyfish

Do not get the animal out of the water. Any manipulation must be done only under water. Put the beginner in the aquarium with jellyfish should also be along with the liquid. Take care that cold-water jellyfish do not overheat during transportation.

Types of jellyfish

Whom to fill an aquarium with jellyfish? The most popular species is a long-eared aurelia. It lives everywhere, practically in all tropical and temperate seas, swimming even in the waters of the Arctic. Sometimes representatives of this species gather in large groups. She does not have long tentacles, which means that the animals will fit in a container of small size. They are hardy, adapt easily to new conditions, their stinging cells are not dangerous to humans. Live eared aurelii 2 years.

More exotic aquarium species include Pacific resident Mastigias papua, a beauty with long tentacles of Chrysaora and a magnificent spotted Australian jellyfish, whose dome resembles a starry sky. Medusae of the genus Mastigias are simple in content and differ in interesting behavior. Appropriate for beginners and representatives of the genus Cassiopeia, which can be maintained even in ordinary aquariums because of their sedentary lifestyle.

Feeding jellyfish

To jellyfish feel comfortable and lived a long life, they need to feed them with a variety of products. Most often as a feed used live artemia and vitamin supplements. In nature, jellyfish feed on phyto- and zooplankton, which can be replaced with minced meat from seafood. Fish and shrimp in the diet are rare, so often do not give them.

Decorative jellyfish for aquarium

So, you have already understood that the content of live jellyfish is a troublesome and expensive business. They will not be able to settle in a common aquarium, besides the capacity with these animals should be empty and decorated only with lighting. However, your home underwater world can supplement the silicone jellyfish for the aquarium.

Such an unusual decoration can be purchased at a pet store. Artificial jellyfish for the aquarium are attached with a line to the glass. They are bright and interesting in the moving water column.

The content of live jellyfish in the aquarium while only a few can afford. Most of these beauties can be seen in aquariums, hotel lobbies, restaurants. If you want to decorate your home aquarium with a small bright jellyfish, you can purchase an artificial one.