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Bought a Jellyfish...don't think he's doing well!!

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DaisyPolyp

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Yesterday we went to a different LFS and they had this small blue Jellyfish. he only cost about $16 so we thought why not. We acclimated him for 20 mins (recomended by the LFS) and then put him in the tank. we are comming up on 24hrs and he has pretty much been moving along close to the bottom and appears to get stuck behind the live rock. he did come out and swim around a bit when i offered brine shrimp but that's the most life i've seen from him. He would be a great addition to my tank if he survived.....what are my chances? Should i just be waiting for him to die???........i heard it's hopeless!!! :(
 
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Anonymous

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Welcome to reefs.org!

Jellyfish cannot usually be kept in "regular" tanks or reef tanks, Daisy. Unfortunately, I think you've answered your own question as to "Why not".
 
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Anonymous

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I hate to tell you, but I agree with SM. Welcome to RDO, sorry it had to come with bad news.

Jellies for the most part have very sensitive physical structures, and contact with solid objects causes them damage. If you see them in public aquaria, they're housed in special tanks (called Kreisel (sp?) tanks, btw) that keep them from touching any solid surface (even the walls of the tank).

Also, jellies are closely related to anemones, and require pristine water conditions and usually have specialized food requirements. You don't mention in your post, but what were the results of your last round of water tests? How long has the tank been up and running? What kind of filtration do you have? What type and how much lighting?
 
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Anonymous

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The only one I've ever seen people have any kind of success with in a semi conventional tank are the 'cassiopeia' jellyfish - upside down jellyfish. Most of the other ones I've seen will need a kreisel tank lest they get chopped up in the filter / powerhead intakes. Here is a pic of a kreisel tank I found on the web :

http://www.imagequest3d.com/catalogue/j ... 15_jpg.htm
 
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investigator1

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DaisyPolyp you wnet to Fish Haven in Escondido. They also have Nautilus for sale. Those specific Jellies need a pure sand only tank. They are photosynthetic and opportunistic feeders. Eventually it will not swim like a normal jelly and attach "upsidedown" to the sand. Then they sit there and are boring and grow and poop off babies. The babies are the ones that swim around.
 
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Anonymous

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Heh.. you know the other "nick" for Escondido, don't ya? 8O George, you really have a way, oh yes you do ("poop off babies").

They shouldn't be selling nautilus, either.
 
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DaisyPolyp

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Investigator, how did you know that? that is amazing! I normally go to Tri-City fish in Vista, how do they stack up?

...thanks for the info, I'll keep you posted on what happens.
 
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nanocat

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FWIW, those "why not" purchases usually end up as disasters. Look first, come home and ask here, and then go back and buy. You'll save a LOT of money with the advice here.

Personally I'd get it out of there before it croaks and pollutes the tank.
 
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FMarini

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Well those blue jelly fish have made their way to Houston too...
Thats saisd they are free swimming jellies, not the attached casseopeia type(which by the way are photosynthetic jellies) and I've only read of people have limited success w/ these jellies as they feed them zooplanktons. I suspect they will eat baby brine shrimp or rotifers, but I'm not sure if adult brine is adequate food.
Also as you've read physical objects wll make short work of the jellies mantle.
frank
 
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DaisyPolyp

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wow what a response!! i appreciate all the info given. So far he is seemingly o.k. He does hit the sand but seems to like it there. I thoght he was dead but then today he was up swimming all around in the tank and even seems to like the current. i offered it some brine shrimp as instructed by "Fish Haven" . I don't think it even noticed it in there. he's in our 75 gallon reef tank that currently has 37lbs of live rock 100lbs live sand, 1condi anemone, 1 coral bannded shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 purple reef lobster, 1 orange linkia star, 4 damsels, 2 sm crotia clams, cleaner creaw (crabs,snails,feather dusters) and 1 electric eye scallop. we are running a 5gallon sump and have 150wHQI X3 metal hallide lights.

by the way that Nautalis thing is rather scarry looking and quite expensive too!! Looks like it would need a big tank!

F.Y.I. this log in is sharred by my husband and I so if it seems like two different people you know why!
 
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Anonymous

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Keep an eye on that lobster.

Nautilus are deep-dwelling creatures during daytime, and migrate up at night to feed. They are very primitive animals (just look for fossil shells, those spirals, sometimes split), also known as "chambered nautlius" for the chambers of the shell (IIRC it's for buoyancy control). Being primitive, and being a deepwater creature, they are also quite delicate.

The linkia is another delicate animal, do watch your water quality.
 
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Anonymous

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kriesel.jpg
 
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Anonymous

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Dubge it's a Kreisel tank. It's meant to house organisms like jellyfish that have ultrathin body structures. Those organisms are generally not meant to come into contact with solid matter (like rocks, the ground, glass aquarium wall, filters) so someone designed this tank. You see the openings at the 10:00 and 4:00 positions? water swirls in and out there at a slow but steady current. This makes a sorta sideways whirlpool. Jellyfish and whatnot get caught in that slight current near the edges and are gently turned around and sent back into the middle, away from the edge.

I also think it's kinda sick, like a strange void/prison to keep jelly fish in. Anyone ever see the b mobie "CUBE" ? lol. I just imagine the jellyfish getting really frustrated after a while. Anthropomorophizing, I know. And spelling poorly.
 
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DaisyPolyp

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Just as an update, our little jelly now seems to be fine....i see him puffing around pretty much most of the day and he actively went after some brine shrimp today. Not sure how long he will last but i do enjoy watching him!! If i were to take him out it would be to save him from certain death...so on that note what should be done with him??? any ideas are welcome :)
 
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ricky1414

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just a little question/comment:
aren't you afraid of the jellyfish consuming your livestock, seeing that they are extremely predatory?
 
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