Common name: Moon Jellyfish

General Information

The Moon Jellyfish, scientifically known as Aurelia aurita, is a captivating marine creature appreciated for its ethereal beauty and mesmerizing swimming patterns. With its translucent, saucer-shaped bell and delicate, trailing tentacles, the Moon Jellyfish is a popular exhibit in public aquariums around the world. Despite its delicate appearance, this species is relatively hardy and has adapted well to life in captivity, making it an intriguing choice for specialized aquarists.

Moon Jellyfish are often featured in educational displays due to their simple anatomy and fascinating life cycle, which provides insights into the biology of cnidarians. Although not commonly kept in home aquariums, they play a significant role in marine education and conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of jellyfish in ocean ecosystems.

Care

Caring for Moon Jellyfish requires a specialized setup, as they need a kreisel tank that allows them to swim freely without getting trapped in corners or filtration systems. These tanks maintain a gentle circular flow that mimics their natural pelagic environment. Maintaining stable water conditions and ensuring excellent water quality is crucial for their health.

Lighting should be subdued to replicate their natural habitat, and the tank should be free of sharp edges that could damage their delicate bodies. Regular monitoring of water parameters is essential to prevent stress and disease.

Diet and Feeding

Moon Jellyfish are primarily carnivorous, feeding on small planktonic organisms in the wild. In captivity, they can be fed a diet of live or frozen plankton, such as brine shrimp or daphnia. Feeding should be done daily, with small portions that they can consume within a few hours.

It is important to ensure that food particles are distributed evenly throughout the tank, allowing the jellyfish to catch them with their tentacles. Overfeeding can lead to water quality issues, so careful monitoring of feeding habits is necessary.

Behavior and Compatibility

Moon Jellyfish are peaceful creatures, drifting gracefully through the water column. They do not exhibit aggression and are best kept in species-specific tanks to avoid potential harm from incompatible tank mates. Their delicate nature makes them unsuitable for community tanks with fish or invertebrates that may nip at their tentacles.

Reproduction

Moon Jellyfish have a complex reproductive cycle involving both sexual and asexual stages. In the wild, they release sperm and eggs into the water, where fertilization occurs. The resulting planula larvae settle on a substrate and develop into polyps, which can reproduce asexually by budding. Mature polyps eventually release juvenile medusae, completing the cycle.

In captivity, encouraging reproduction can be challenging due to the specific conditions required for each life stage. However, understanding their reproductive cycle is crucial for conservation and breeding programs.

Health and Common Issues

Moon Jellyfish have a relatively short lifespan, typically living for several months to a year in captivity. Maintaining water quality and providing a suitable diet are key to their health and longevity.

When selecting Moon Jellyfish, look for specimens with intact bells and smooth, undamaged tentacles. Avoid jellyfish with visible tears or signs of stress, as these can indicate poor health.

Common issues include bell tears and bacterial infections, often resulting from poor water quality or inadequate tank conditions. Regular maintenance and careful monitoring can help prevent these problems, ensuring a healthy environment for your jellyfish.

Habitat

Aurelia aurita is found in coastal waters around the world, preferring temperate and tropical regions. They inhabit the epipelagic zone, drifting with ocean currents and often forming large aggregations known as "blooms." These blooms are a natural phenomenon and can be influenced by environmental factors such as water temperature and nutrient availability.

In captivity, replicating their natural pelagic habitat is essential for their well-being. This includes maintaining stable water temperatures and gentle currents that allow them to swim freely without obstruction.