A tank that is circular, with a flat base, is ideal as the shape can allow your jellyfish to float in the tank water. This is essential for the health and happiness of your jellyfish.
Keep in mind jellyfish tank kits are not cheap, ranging from $350 - $600. You may want to try using an aquarium tank instead to save money on your set up. [2] X Research source
An air pump An undergravel filter plate An air tube Airline tubing Substrate for the bottom of the tank, such as glass beads An LED light An LED remote control (optional)
A low table in your home in a dark spot or the top of a desk would work. You could also get a small raised wooden stand for your home or office and place the tank on top of that.
You may need to trim off one side of one of the plates to make it fit with the rest of the plates. You can do this using scissors or an X-ACTO knife. Place the filter plate and the air tube in the tank. The plates should cover the bottom of the tank and fit snugly when you slide it into the tank.
Look for glass beads at your local dollar store or online. Glass beads that are the size of jelly beans are ideal substrate for your tank. You should fill the tank with at least one layer of substrate, or 2 inches of glass beads for a medium sized tank.
Place the airline tubing into the air tube so it is dangling a few inches into the tube. Then, connect the airline tubing to the air pump. This will allow you to cycle through air into the tank using the air pump.
To make salt water for your tank, you can use aquarium salt or ionic salt. You should dissolve the salt crystals in reverse-osmosis filtered water or distilled water, making sure there are no big chunks of salt in the water. Do not use tap water as it contains elements that could be harmful for your jellyfish. Once you add the salt water, smooth over the glass beads with your hand so they are even at the bottom of the tank.
Some jellyfish tank owners will add in the jellyfish to the tank right away and then do daily water changes. The water changes help to control the ammonia levels down in the tank. However, letting the tank cycle through before adding the jellyfish will ensure your new pets stay healthy in their tank.
Ideally, you should have ammonia and nitrate at 0. 0ppm in the tank. You may have lower nitrate levels, at around 20ppm. Once these substances are at these levels, you are clear to add jellyfish into your tank.
Alternatively, you can buy jellyfish in person at a pet supply store. Talk to a sales associate to ensure they are knowledgeable about the jellyfish they are selling. You want to buy jellyfish that are floating and moving in a tank already, with bright, healthy looking tentacles. Often, pet supply stores will have a specialty area for jellyfish and other sea animals. A species of jellyfish called moon jellyfish do best in home aquariums. Moon jellyfish are seasonal animals and usually live between 6 to 12 months. [8] X Research source
You should also only buy one species of jellyfish for your tank. For example, you may decide to have only moon jellyfish in your tank or only blue blubber jellyfish in your tank. Most jellyfish species do better with the same species in one tank. [10] X Research source
Place the sealed bag of jellies on the surface of your tank for 10 minutes. This will help bring the water in the bag to the same temperature as the tank water. After 10 minutes, open the bag and remove half of the water with a clean cup. Then, add tank water to the bag, making sure the amount of tank water is equal to the bag water you removed. After another 10 minutes, you can slowly release your jelly into your tank. Use an aquarium net to gently release them. Do not pour them out into the tank as this can shock them.
You should observe your jellyfish over the next few days to ensure they appear to be moving and pulsing comfortably in your tank. If your jellyfish appears to have turned inside, a process known as eversion, your water temperature may be off. Jellyfish should be kept in water temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius. You may need to adjust your water temperature and test your water again to ensure it has the proper ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. [13] X Research source
Live shrimp brine will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can feed the jellyfish through a small opening in the tank to prevent getting stung by their tentacles. The jellyfish should catch and ingest the food on their own. Do not overfeed your jellies, as this could compromise the water quality in the tank. If you have smaller and bigger jellyfish in the tank, you may not be able to encourage the smaller ones to grow and stay healthy by overfeeding them, anyway.
Remember to test the water quality after each water change. The salinity level should be 34-55 ppt, which is closest to natural seawater. You should also confirm the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are correct in the tank.
Instead, you should contact the seller you bought the jellyfish from to then arrange for a new home or caretaker for the jellyfish.
