1 Upside-Down Jellyfish (Cassiopea sp.)

Description

A radially symmetrical jellyfish that rests on the seafloor, using its bell like a suction cup to stay attached to the bottom. It extends its eight branched oral arms, which have small vesicles at their tips filled with unicellular algae that give the jellyfish its greenish/purplish/bluish appearance. At first glance, it resembles an anemone more than a jellyfish. The bell often has distinct colored markings or streaks.

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Cnidaria
• Class: Scyphozoa
• Order: Rhizoatomeae
• Suborder: Kolpophorae
• Family: Cassiopeidae
• Genus: Cassiopea
• Species: Cassiopea sp
• Common name: Upside-Down Jellyfish

Distribution:

Typically found in estuaries, coastal lagoons, and shallow, calm waters. Common in mangrove areas, always in saltwater. Main distribution includes the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Maximum size:
30–35 cm in the wild
Around 15 cm in aquariums

Lifespan: Several months in nature; up to 1 year in aquariums

Requires light: Yes, it is photosynthetic thanks to zooxanthellae in its tentacles, which must face the light.

Feeding: Although it is photosynthetic, it requires supplemental feeding Artemia salina nauplii
Jellyfish food
Frozen invertebrate mixes
Adult artemia
Frozen cyclops

Stinging: No

Care level: EASY. Very easy to maintain because it does not require a specialized jellyfish tank with circular flow. It can live in a standard aquarium, as it typically rests on the bottom with its tentacles extended toward the light.
It pulses constantly and rarely swims—though it’s beautiful to watch it slowly move across the tank before settling again.
These jellyfish are thought to have a sleep cycle, moving up and down depending on metabolic activity.
They are compatible with coral tanks and aquariums with beach-style shallow zones.
Extremely hardy animals, tolerant of a wide range of temperature and salinity.