How to Buy a Jellyfish

Whether or not you can buy a jellyfish and keep it alive at your home is up for debate, with varying opinions regarding what a jellyfish needs to survive and whether a salt-water creature can be kept for any length of time in fresh water. Some say you can buy a fresh-water jellyfish and keep it alive under certain conditions. Here are some things to think about if you're planning on joining this movement to buy and own these unusual marine creatures.

Instructions

1. Identify the jellyfish by its environment. Most jellyfish live only in salt water, which makes it exceedingly difficult to keep them alive out of their natural environment.

2. Go to sites like The Marine Center to see about buying rare species (see Resources). These kinds of sites will help you determine what is actually for sale on the market and how to go about getting a jellyfish.

3. Check on pricing. Fresh-water jellyfish, if they are available, are rare and can be very costly. Evaluate your budget when considering buying a jellyfish.

4. Learn about other specific conditions. A jellyfish can risk getting stuck in a tank's pump apparatus. Also, jellyfish can even get stuck in the square corners of a tank. A cylinder tank usually works best and it needs to have rocks or pots for them to attach their young to and a light current. Make sure you know what a jellyfish would require to thrive in captivity.

5. Connect with reputable dealers. Buying from no-name shops is always risky, and without clear pictures or a personal visit, you're taking a chance. Do the necessary communication with various sea life vendors to make you're getting what you paid for.

Resources

• Marine Center website