Why Jellyfish Glow In The Dark

Have you ever watched one of those documentaries on marine life and wondered why jellyfish glow in the dark? Jellyfish are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful creatures in the ocean. 

They are free-swimming marine animals. Their body is shaped like an umbrella with tentacles attached to them. They can glow in the dark because of a phenomenon called ‘bioluminescence.’

It is basically a mechanism that allows marine animals to produce light. Many marine animals have bioluminescence. But we can observe it very well in jellyfish. It is because jellyfish have the ability to bioluminescence.

Comb jellies are a species of jellyfish where almost 90% of them can produce light! Bioluminescence developed as a part of an evolution in marine creatures.

They mainly use it for communication and also for self-defense. However, researchers are still finding out new things about why they use bioluminescence.

Who Should Buy This?

If you are someone who loves to study marine life, jellyfish will surely intrigue you. Whether you want to research jellyfish or just want to see their glow in your room at night, these are a great option.

You can just observe them through your fish tank. Jellyfish are an excellent pet to have. The most common type of jellyfish that people keep in their aquarium is Aurelia Aurita, commonly known as ‘Moon Jellyfish.’ Moon jellyfish also glow in the dark.

Things To Consider –

If you wish to have jellyfish as pets, you should remember to keep them in an ideal environment. They should be kept in an aquarium tank with suitable water purification. Jellyfish are delicate creatures.

They only live for 11 to 12 months. So if they are kept in a clean environment, they can indeed live that long. If you keep two or more jellyfish, that’s even better. You should also keep other things in the tank-like tiny plants and pebbles.

The next thing to remember is to feed appropriate food to your jellyfish. They mainly eat fish such as shrimp, crabs, and plants. The other most important thing to know about jellyfish is that they sting.

Don’t worry; the sting of moon jellyfish is not dangerous to humans at all. It isn’t painful either. You just have to be careful about handling them while cleaning the tank or feeding them.

If you have children in the house, make sure that the tank is kept at a height so they can’t reach it. That is all. If you just keep these basic things in mind, you can easily keep jellyfish as pets.

1. Under The Sea –

There are so many exciting things about jellyfish. Jellyfish are also known as sea jellies or just jellies. They belong to the phylum Cnidaria. The part of the jellyfish that looks like an umbrella is called a bell.

The bell pulsates, and as a result, jellyfish have an efficient movement. The tentacles are the part of their body that has stinging cells. The bell part doesn’t have these stinging cells.

Jellyfish mainly use these tentacles to trap or kill their prey. They also use them to defend themselves against their predators. Jellyfish also glow to defend themselves against their predators.

It is pretty interesting how this happens. All the marine animals who have bioluminescence use this mechanism. When the predator approaches the luminescent fish, they just turn their light on.

This startles the predators. Some creatures also create a fog-life effect and scare the predators. In the meantime, they run away and go to a more secure part of the sea. The ocean is quite dark as the light doesn’t penetrate its depths.

The deeper you go, the darker it gets. So when the jellyfish glow in such darkness, they look genuinely mesmerizing. In marine life documentaries, we can see this most of the time.

We can also observe this glow a lot better in the darkness. The light can be blue, yellow, green, or even pink, depending on the type of jellyfish we see.

In some of them, the light can be seen traveling from the middle toward the outer ends of the jellyfish bell. The bioluminescent fish give seawater a glowing effect.

The green and fluorescent proteins found in some species of jellyfish are used in research. It is used as a fluorescent marker when scientists artificially insert genes from one organism to another.

Jellyfish can be found all over the world. They are found in the sea and not in freshwater. The colorful ones are located in the coastal areas. Some people eat jellyfish.

In certain Asian countries, they are considered a delicacy. They are considered a “perfect diet” by Australian marine researchers!

It is because jellyfish are very high in protein and low in calories. Even some marine predators are immune to the sting of jellyfish. As a result, they become easy targets for food.

Other Marine Animals –

There is a lot of biodiversity among water animals. There are cephalopods, crustaceans, and other shellfish. There are also invertebrates like corals, fish- big and small, marine animals like seals, turtles, octopus and reptiles, and even sea birds.

Of course, marine plants and insects are also essential to the ocean. The sea is filled with colorful coral creatures. Humans eat fish, and they are the main part of our diet as well. Whales are the biggest fishes in the sea.

They can be almost 25-30 m long. Dolphins are fishes that are actually intelligent. They can communicate with each other and understand social interaction up to a certain level. They are even capable of solving complex problems.

FAQs About Jellyfish –

Are Jellyfish High Maintenance?

Jellyfish are not hard to have as pets. However, a change in the temperature can kill them. One should make sure to keep them only in an environment with an ideal temperature. Also, make sure to feed them on time and to keep the fish tank clean.

Can You Touch A Moon Jellyfish?

Moon jellyfish do not sting humans. However, you can feel a minor stinging sensation. The important thing is not to get worried as it is entirely harmless.

Do Moon Jellyfish Glow?

Yes, moon jellyfish glow in the dark. They are bioluminescent, which means that their body produces light.

Conclusion

In conclusion, jellyfish are not very high maintenance. They are friendly and calm pets. They will light up your house and take away your loneliness. Having a pet is always therapeutic. When we take care of an animal, we feel content and happy. So if you are planning on getting some new members for your aquarium, you should definitely consider jellyfish.