Aurelia jellyfish is a species of marine life that is very interesting and mysterious. Therefore, they are often kept in aquariums. This article contains information about who aurelia jellyfish is: a description, features of the content, reproduction of this species.
general description
In aurelia, the umbrella is flat and in diameter can reach 40 cm. Since it is based on a non-cellular substance (consists of 98% water), it is completely transparent. This quality also determines that the weight of these animals is close to the weight of water, which greatly facilitates swimming.
It should be noted that the structure of aurelia jellyfish has a very interesting structure. So, on the edge of her umbrella there are tentacles - small, but at the same time mobile. They are very densely seated with a huge number of stinging cells.
This jellyfish has a quadrangular mouth, with 4 movable blades at the edges. Their reduction (they are also covered with stinging cells) makes it possible to pull the prey to the mouth and reliably capture it.
Content
Issues of keeping jellyfish are somewhat specific. Initially, the case in aquariums. For jellyfish, special containers are required that provide a circular smooth flow. That allows animals to move quietly without fear of any collisions. This is important because aurelia, or long-eared jellyfish, has a very delicate and soft body, which is easily damaged.
It is necessary to ensure the correct flow rate, which should allow animals to "soar" without problems in the water column. Only in this case there should be no danger of harming their bodies.
The specificity also lies in the fact that for jellyfish in aquariums, the use of aeration is absolutely excluded. This is due to the fact that air bubbles can appear under the dome of the animal, get stuck there and then pierce it, which is very dangerous and can lead to the death of a jellyfish.
They don’t need any special lighting, basically just a simple backlight.
Also note that there is no need for water filtration. As a rule, just a regular water change is enough to ensure that its quality always remains at the proper level. If there is no desire to constantly renew water, you can also install a life support system. It is important to take proper care of animal welfare. Because they can be pulled into the intake devices.
In addition, it must be borne in mind that the aurelia jellyfish must live in a fairly spacious aquarium, since it needs the ability to freely extend the tentacles to their full length.
Feeding
How is jellyfish fed? They are great mix, which consists of brine shrimp, phytoplankton, crushed crustaceans and seafood. Although at the moment there are various ready-made feeds on sale that aurelia (eared jellyfish) can also eat. But there is one feature. If the animals do not like the food, they can start eating the rest of the jellyfish.
Breeding
Aurelia jellyfish is dioecious. So, the testes in males have a milky white color, they are clearly visible: these are small half rings in the body of the animal. Females have purple or red ovaries, which are also visible in the lumen. Therefore, by coloring, you can understand which sex is jellyfish. Aurelia during their life reproduce only once, and then die. Their main distinguishing feature is the manifestation of caring for their own offspring (which is not characteristic of other species).
It is worth noting that the fertilization of eggs, as well as their further development, takes place in special pockets. They enter eggs through the gutters from the mouth. After fertilization, the egg is divided into 2 parts, each of which is further divided in half and so on. Due to this, a single-layer multicellular ball is formed.
Some part of the cells of this ball gets inside, which can be compared with clicking on a rubber ball. Because of this, a two-layer embryo arises.
He can swim, thanks to a large number of cilia, which are located on its outer part. The embryo then becomes a larva called a planula. For a while she just swims, and then falls to the bottom. It is attached with the front end to the bottom. Quickly enough, the posterior end of the planula is transformed: a mouth appears in this place, and tentacles also form. And it becomes a polyp, from which small jellyfish are subsequently formed.
Interesting Facts
Aurelia jellyfish is often used in medicine. From it in the Middle Ages laxatives and diuretics were produced. And today, from the poison that is contained in the tentacles of animals, they develop means for regulating pressure and treating various pulmonary diseases.
Farmers of the Caribbean use poison physalium in the form of poison for rodents.
Jellyfish can effectively deal with stress. They are bred in Japan in special aquariums. Slow, smooth movements of animals calm people, while keeping them is very cheap and troublesome.
Phosphors isolated from jellyfish are used for biochemical analysis. Their genes were transplanted to various animals, for example, rodents, due to which biologists got the opportunity to see previously inaccessible processes with their own eyes. Due to this action, rodents began to grow green hair.
Some jellyfish are caught off the coast of China, where their tentacles are removed, while the carcasses are kept in the marinade, due to which the animal turns into a cake from a thin, delicate, translucent cartilage. In the form of such cakes, animals are transported to Japan, where they are carefully selected for quality, color and size and used in cooking. So, for one salad, the jellyfish is cut into small strips with a width of 3 mm, they are mixed with herbs, stewed vegetables, and then watered with sauce.
Jellyfish robots appeared there. They, unlike real animals, not only swim beautifully and slowly, but can also “dance” if the owner wishes to the music.
