New Octopus Species discovered in the Antarctic

I am a huge fan of cephalopods. In fact, a lot of my school research was based on them. So it should come as no surprise that I would find the following story interesting. According to an article from Discovery News, scientists in Antarctica have recently found four new species of Octopus and two types of cephalopod venom. Both the new species and venom were discovered in the frigid waters of Antarctica. The intriguing part of the venom is that it stays stable at sub-zero temperatures. The venom, which is enzyme-based, is affected by temperature. Usually, enzymes work better at warmer temperatures, up to a certain point of course. It was shocking to the researchers that the Antarctic ocotpuses could maintain a stable venom at these low temperatures, and researchers hope the venom will lead to the development of new drugs to help battle pain, allergies, and even cancer. The research team traveled for weeks, collecting 203 individual octopusus, genetically profiling each on so as to properly identify it down to the species level. Additionally, venom was collected from each specimen and analyzed.

Tube Anemone Glowing Under Ecoxotic LED Photon Cannon

Pictured in this week’s Picture of the Week is a Tube Anemone glowing under the actinic lighting of the Ecoxotic Photon Cannon. The Photon Cannon is a very popular light. It is supposed to perform as well as a metal halide light, if not better, but at a fraction of the energy input.

JellyfishArt Logo

I get the chance to meet a lot of interesting people in this hobby. Most of the time these occurrences happen at random and with varying outcomes. But every once in a while you meet someone who really takes you in a direction you have either never been, or never thought you would go. I had another one of these encounters when Cameron Urban, of Jellyfish Art, who originally contacted us to discuss legislation related to the aquarium industry. I told him my thoughts on the subject, but the conversation eventually progressed into his specialty, jellyfish. Never passing up the opportunity for a good educational experience for the AquaNerd readers, I decided to ask him a few basic questions about jellyfish. Cameron replied in no time, and both our questions and his responses can be seen below.

The questions are very simple. I wanted to ask them from a beginner’s perspective, as most hobbyists don’t really know about jellyfish and their requirements. Cameron did a great job of answering each question, and I know I learned a few things.

AquaNerd: So, why jellyfish? What attracted you to them and what about them fascinates people?
Jellyfish Art: The first jellyfish exhibits opened in public aquariums several years ago when scientists first discovered how to display jellyfish in captivity using tanks with special water flow patterns. Since then, jellyfish exhibits have been wildly popular and now jellyfish are found in virtually all the public aquariums. It was clear people loved to watch jellyfish and their soothing and mesmerizing movements, but nobody had made the necessary tanks and food to allow people to have their own jellyfish. After some tinkering and experimenting, Jellyfish Art started selling jellyfish tanks, food, and jellyfish all online. It was immediately apparent that people had been wanting their own jellyfish as they started getting jellyfish tanks and pet jellyfish. That is when Jellyfish Art took off.

AquaNerd: Are jellyfish hard to care for?
Jellyfish Art: Jellyfish tanks are easier to maintain than many salt water tanks because jellyfish have such a low metabolism. In addition, our jellyfish tanks have very low evaporation rates, so maintaining salinity takes only a few minutes per month. Nevertheless, jellyfish do need to be fed once a day and follow similar cleaning procedures as other salt and fresh water tanks.

AquaNerd: What kind of water parameters are required for proper jellyfish care?
Jellyfish Art: Every 2 weeks, 25% of the tank water must be changed. You can leave the jellyfish in the tank during a water change. We discourage using tap water, so it is better to purchase salt water from your local aquarium store.

AquaNerd: Are round tanks necessary? Why?
Jellyfish Art: Jellyfish tanks need specially designed water flow patterns so the jellyfish do not get sucked into the pumps.

How does a jellyfish tank differ from a normal fish tank? The key differences are in the design and filtration. Whereas a normal fish tank is rectangular and has one direction of filtration, a jellyfish tank is circular allowing the filtration to keep the jellies suspended.

Jellyfish aquariums traditionally follow the kreisel design. By definition, a kreisel tank is circular, which helps the water to constantly flow in a cycle. Even the bottom of the tank is curved so that there are no obstacles or changes in the flow of the current. With its unique inlet and drain, the filtration system uses a special screen to prevent the jellyfish from getting sucked in and liquefied. Separate inlet and outlet chambers assist this operation helping the jellyfish to stay away from the sides of the tank. Combined, both the filter and tank design create an equilibrium in water pressure so the jellyfish don’t get stuck in one place but rather swim freely.

The kreisel tank is able to house most species of fish, however it is specialized for more delicate organisms such as jellyfish. If a jellyfish were to be placed in a normal fish tank there would be multiple barriers that would prevent the jellies from living a normal life span. As mentioned, the rectangular design would get the jellyfish stuck in corners most likely tearing their delicate tissue. It also wouldn’t be long before the jellyfish get sucked into the inlet of the filter. To house a jellyfish properly in a normal fish tank one would need to convert it. This takes a lot of money and free time, as well as a much more in-depth understanding of how a kreisel is constructed.

AquaNerd: Are jellyfish susceptible to any specific diseases or parasites?
Jellyfish Art: No.

AquaNerd: What do jellyfish eat? Are some photosynthetic?
Jellyfish Art: For the most part, jellyfish in the wild feed on plankton, which is made up of thousands of microscopic species of swimming animals. Some species of jellyfish, such as the Upside Down Jelly host symbiotic algae within their oral arms. This algae provides extra nutrition to the jellyfish by producing organic material through photosynthesis. Many species of jellyfish feed on other species of jellyfish. For example, the sea nettles feed on moon jellyfish

In captivity, jellyfish are fed frozen food specially formulated for jellyfish. Jellyfish Art provides a frozen jellyfish food specifically formulated for jellyfish. It is made from plankton high in HUFAs (Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids), which are essential for proper nutrition. Jellyfish can also be fed live food, although this is very time consuming and messy. Public aquariums have a full time staff, so they often hatch their own Artemia (brine shrimp) to feed to jellyfish. Depending on the species of jellyfish, sometimes public aquariums feed the jellyfish rotifers, blended krill, chopped fish, and other foods.

AquaNerd: What kind of equipment is required to successfully keep jellyfish?
Jellyfish Art: The tank must have a kreisel design so that the jellyfish don’t get stuck in any corners. The kreisel design will also ensure that the jellyfish don’t get liquefied in the filtration system and also so that they swim suspended above the bottom of the tank. The pressure of the filtration system must be fairly light and must be composed of biological, mechanical, and chemical components.

AquaNerd: I know there are countless species of dangerous jelly, but can the ones in captivity sting us? Are they dangerous to unsuspecting aquarium hobbyists?
Jellyfish Art: Most jellyfish can sting us. However, Jellyfish Art uses moon jellyfish, a species that is harmless to the human touch.

AquaNerd: Any crowd favorites? Which jellyfish are the most popular and why?
Jellyfish Art: There are definitely a few crowd favorites when it comes to jellyfish. After the movie Seven Pounds came out everyone wanted a box jellyfish. But more realistically, our customers will ask for either pacific sea nettles or moon jellyfish. Unfortunately, pacific sea nettles are a species that will only work in our larger custom tanks. Most people like the moon jellyfish because they become illuminated under LED lighting.

We would like to thank Jellyfish Art for, not only participating in our interview, but also expanding our horizons.

Gorgeous Blue Mastigias papua Jellyfish

© 2010 Foster & Smith, Inc. Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from http://www.LiveAquaria.com

LiveAquaria has listed another gorgeous oddball in their Diver’s Den. The stunning blue and tan Mastigias papua jellyfish can thrive long-term given the proper environment. This environment would include proper feeding and lighting, as well as equipment preparation. Pump intakes and overflow boxes for example can be very hazardous to this animals, as it could be easily sucked into either. Placing foam on pump intakes could prevent the jellyfish from becoming impeller food. Additionally, this jellyfish also requires a varied diet, including zooplankton-based foods, but it will also benefit from moderate to intense lighting since they are also photosynthetic. Zooxanthellae live within the jellyfish’s tissues and provide nutrition to the animal in much the same way corals do.

Permissions and Sources:
© 2010 Drs. Foster and Smith, Inc.
Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from
DrsFosterSmith.com (http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com)
Free pet supply catalog: 1-800-323-4208

ORA Naked Ocellaris Clownfish in Green Bubble Tip Anemone

This week’s Picture of the Week comes to you from the AquaNerd Flickr page. The picture is of two ORA Naked Ocellaris clownfish taking up residence in a green bubble tip anemone.

Coral Morphologic has rolled out another amazing clip of a Crustacean hitch hiking on an Echinoderm. The black and white Squat Urchin Shrimp is seen hiding among the spines of a black and white West Indian Sea Egg (a type of sea urchin). The Squat Urchin Shrimp will take any opportunity to eat up any detritus it can find, but on occasion it will also eat tissue from the urchin. The urchin, besides offering an epidermal snack from time to time, also provides a great deal of protection for the shrimp.

Like a ghost among a forest of spines, the Urchin Pea Crab (Dissodactylus primitivus), seen in this gorgeous Coral Morphologic video, hides out on a Red Heart Sea Urchin. This crab shares a commensal relationship with the sea urchin. It lives among the spines of the urchin, feeding on detritus and any other food particles that get close enough. The urchin is a sand dweller that feeds on decaying organic matter. It buries itself in the sand, where it hides from predators and feeds on anything it can find.

Aquariums at the Florida Marlins Ballpark

It should come as no surprise that PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is not too happy with the Florida Marlins, who are planning on incorporating two large saltwater aquariums into the backstop at their new ballpark. Their argument is that the livestock in the tank would be subjected to several stressful factors, and should instead replace the tank with a video screen with footage of tropical fish or even fish inspired art. I can’t say that I disagree with PETA. Their arguments are actually quite sound:

From a quote taken from the Miami Herald, PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman said,

Being exposed to the loud crowds, bright lights, and reverberations of a baseball stadium would be stressful and maddening for any large animals held captive in tanks that, to them, are like bathtubs.”

Thanks Karlo for the heads up!

Volitan Lionfish in Atlantic Waters

Sometimes a fish outgrows an aquarium. Occasionally our livestock becomes too difficult to care for. When this occurs, and it will, you shouldn’t return the fish to the ocean. No matter how easy it would be, returning a fish to the ocean is a very bad thing. Non-native species can negatively impact a local ecosystem to a great extent. Even returning a specimen that you caught locally can be just as harmful under the right circumstances.

Grape Caulerpa

Non-native species can wreak havoc on a local ecosystem. If you have doubts to this, just ask the scientists and divers that frequent the Caribbean. Non-native lionfish were accidentally released into the waters off the coast of Florida and have since taken over. These fish have no predator in this part of the world and eat almost everything in sight. Another example of a dangerous non-native species is Caulerpa. Caulerpa is a macroalgae that is very popular among aquarium keepers. It is used to removed excess nutrients from the water and grows very quickly. It does well in multiple different environments, making it very dangerous to the various ocean habitats it has found its way into. In California, where owning Caulerpa has become illegal, this macroalgae blankets the sea floor, choking out native corals and plant life. By releasing a non-native specimen into local waters, you can very quickly negatively impact that ecosystem.

Nat Geo Global Photo Contest Winner: Peppermint Shrimp in Sponge

Non-native livestock isn’t the only dangerous livestock to be released back into the wild. Locally caught fish and invertebrates are very common in coastal cities. Houston, for example, is close to Galveston Bay. And in Galveston Bay, you can catch a wide variety of fish and invertebrates that are suitable for the home aquarium. Peppermint shrimp are abundant on the jetties along the beaches and are very common in the aquarium trade. Local hobbyists frequently catch these shrimp and various fish and put them in their aquariums. Once in the aquarium, the livestock is immediately exposed to various pathogens and parasites. If released back into the wild, the invertebrate or fish may take a foreign parasite along with it.

I doubt the impact of releasing a local specimen back into its native habitat would be too great, especially given the fact that there are tons of pollutants being introduced every day. Additionally, ships unload thousands of gallons of ballast water, which could contain more non-native species and even parasites or diseases. But, just because these things happen, doesn’t mean we should add to the issue any. There is still a chance of making a huge negative impact on the local ecosystem and we should always remain mindful of our actions and their consequences.

Coral Morphologic keeps rolling out the gems. This time, the video is of the sun anemone shrimp (Periclimenes rathbunae). This species is the least common of the three Florida anemone shrimp, and unlike the other two species, P. rathbunae doesn’t performing any cleaning activity on fish. Instead, this shrimp will live exclusively on its anemone host and occasionally eat tentacles off of it. For more information on this shrimp, visit the Morphologic Blog.