One of our beautiful Gem tangs is having a midday snack! #aquarium #gemtang
A quick shot from our 10,000g saltwater lagoon!
🐠Welcome back to Lee's Friday Fish Facts! 🐠
Today we are talking about a newly arrived display at Sanctuary, Moon Jellyfish!🪼🪼
These alien-looking animals are actually considered a large form of plankton because they cannot swim against the water current.
Moon Jellyfish get their name from the translucent bell that gives them a slight glowing effect, similar to the moon. They have actually been to space though! In 1991, NASA sent about 2,500 moon jellyfish polyps (baby jellyfish) into orbit to see if it would effect their behavior after development. After returning, they had much more difficulty navigating their environment.
The hair-like tentacles at the end of their bell slowly sweep food towards the center, where their mouth is. The tentacles also have strong stinging cells that can paralyze small prey, just like corals and anemones! These cells are called nemaocysts and act like tiny harpoons. When somthing touches them, a small barb shoots out and releases its neurotoxin. Jellyfish, corals, and anemones are actually all fairly closely related animals, despite looking so different.
Jellyfish are 95% water. They have no structures to support themselves, so they fully rely on the ocean around them to keep them looking so bouncy. They also rely on the water contacting their skin to breathe. They have no gills or lungs, so they breathe by having a thin membrane that oxygen can just pass right through! They actually lack most of the body parts we know, with no blood vessels, heart, or even a brain!
While a little late for Father’s Day, enjoy this video of a male Domino Damselfish taking care of a freshly laid batch of eggs in our Lagoon!
He is picking off algae and fanning the eggs to keep them from growing mold. The female joins him later in the video, helping to protect her eggs from other fish that might enjoy an omelet for breakfast!
We just got in some awesome locally raised storm clownfish. These guys have some amazing coloration and patterns! Come on in and check them out!