Upside down jellyfish!!

[HClH2OFish]

Ok, I've got a 10gal tank that I have used to only cure the small chuncks of LR that I've purchased.
Had tons of copepods initially...then 2 mo. ago got a nice piece of LR and left it in there for about 2 weeks before putting in my main tank. Then I had tons of arthopods..cute lil critters.
I have *no* filtration on this tank and only the standard 6500k Eclipse bulb above it. The water quality is pristine, 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate
Was checking on my little critters the other day before sucking some out to put in my main tank when I noticed an upside down jelly swimming around a bit! He's about 3mm across and seems really happy in there.
He likes to sit on the sides of the glass and just gently 'pulse' a bit.
My question is where the heck did he come from? I haven't added anything to that tank in over 2 months!! There's no LR in there now, just a fake piece of coral/barnacle I keep in there so my g/f doesn't yell at having an eyesore.
On a 2nd note -- what do I need to do to keep him healthy?

 

[J.Howard]

You may try calling your local public aquarium. They often rear jellyfish and can probably suggest the best stuff to keep him happy. Very cool...keep us posted.

 

[HClH2OFish]

LOL..local public aquarium? I live in Phoenix!!!
I've found some good info on a few sites, as well as a great LFS here in town that has carried some of them (only kind they will advise anyone to keep unless you're a marine biologist with very special jellyfish tank)

 

[Anonymous]

you live in Phoenix..where abouts..i used to live there...anyways you probably wont want to keep a jellyfish in a reef tank..its gonna grow and it will eat fish...HTH

 

[Neal]

Upsidedown jelly fish are filter feeders, they also have zooxanthellae in their tenticles thats why they are upside down they sit on the bottom and soak up the light they pulse to keep their tenticles moving to catch phytoplanktin. Good light will keep them alive for awhile but it does need something to eat try using some DTs live phytoplanktin alot of lfs carry it and if not should be able to order you some. As for where he came from an egg probably road in on some live rock and was lucky enough to survive good luck with him keep us posted.

 

[Anonymous]

Neal you are right..i did my research..it is a filter feeder however it does have a mild sting..I stand corrected on it eating your fish...it will get approximately 8" in captivity...

 

[Neal]

[quote=LordNIkon...anyways you probably wont want to keep a jellyfish in a reef tank..its gonna grow and it will eat fish...

they are reef safe they don't swim around to often and they don't eat fish. He would be in more danger of getting injured from swimming into the corals than the other way around.

 

[Anonymous]

Neal you are right..i did my research..

Agreed!

 

[HClH2OFish]

Cool Thanks for all the info. He's only in a tank that I use to raise copapods and arthopods. Wasn't expecting anything more than that. I might dig out one of my other tanks and set it up with just nice sand bed for him and put a better light on it.
I'll rund to the LFS and see about food for him as well.
10"? Wow..that would be impressive!