Caring for your Immortal Jellyfish

The Immortal Jellyfish is a group of jellyfish, with two being of interest. Turritopsis nutricula, and Turritopsis dohrnii. The first is native to the Atlantic Ocean, whereas the latter is found in Japan. These jellies have earned their immortal title through their odd and fascinating life cycle. As a human, you started as a baby, and then progressed into a child, a teen and finally an adult. What if you could transform right back into an infant? Turritopsis can do just that! They curl up into a ball and transform back into their larval polyp stage. From there, they can stay as polyps or transform back into a new jellyfish.

  • A small to medium-sized aquarium (5-10 gallons or 20-40 liters) is suitable for a small colony.
  • Use a low-light setup, as they prefer indirect or dim light.
  • Provide gentle water flow using a small powerhead or air stone.

  • Maintain a temperature between 68-77°F (20-25°C).
  • Keep the salinity around 35 ppt (specific gravity of 1.025).
  • Maintain a pH between 8.0 and 8.3.
  • Ensure ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0 ppm, and nitrate levels are below 10 ppm.

  • Feed them newly hatched brine shrimp (Artemia nauplii) or small planktonic organisms.
  • Feed them once or twice a day, but be careful not to overfeed.
  • Remove any uneaten food to maintain water quality.

  • Perform regular water changes (10-20% weekly) to maintain water quality.
  • Use a siphon with a fine mesh to avoid accidentally removing the jellyfish.

  • Turritopsis dohrnii should be kept in a species-only tank, as they can be harmed by other animals, and their small size makes them potential food for other species.

  • Be very gentle when handling or transferring them, as they are delicate creatures.
  • Use a small container or a turkey baster to carefully collect and move them.

  • Turritopsis dohrnii can reproduce both sexually and asexually. They can also revert to their polyp form under certain conditions.
  • To encourage reproduction, maintain stable water parameters and provide adequate food.

  

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