Freshwater Jellyfish – Care, Diet, Life Cycle, Breeding

When we hear the word jellyfish, the first thing that comes into our mind is a gelatinous, transparent creature that lives in the ocean, which should be avoided.

Not many know that there is a jellyfish, which lives in freshwater lakes. The Craspedacusta sowerbyi, freshwater jellyfish can be found all over the world in lakes and ponds.

Because their size is relative small, and their body is transparent, these freshwater jellyfish go unnoticed and many still believe that there are no medusas that live in freshwater.

Terry L. Peard, Ph.D. dedicated its life to study these freshwater jellyfish and to build a database with the locations where these small creatures can be found.

In this article, you will find information about the breeding, life cycle, diet, water requirements of freshwater jellyfish and other interesting things.

What is the Size of Freshwater Jellyfish?

As mentioned before, freshwater jellyfish are really small. In their medusa (adult) form, this jellyfish reaches up to 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) in diameter, which is the size of a penny.

So, one creature will most likely swim around unnoticed, while even a bigger swarm will be really hard to detect, due to their fully transparent body.

What is the Lifecycle of Freshwater Jellyfish?

Freshwater jellyfish have similar life cycle as saltwater jellyfish.

They start their life as a zygote, which is developed from the egg and sperm of adult medusa.

The zygote becomes a planula (larva), which floats in the water until they attach to a hard surface such as rocks or plant leaves.

Eventually the larva develops into a polyp, which reproduces asexually by so-called budding. The polyp is budding off ephyras (immature medusas), which eventually turn into adult medusa.

The adult medusas will eventually reproduce (sexual reproduction) as well, by releasing eggs and sperms, and the whole process starts again.

So to recap, here are the life stages of a jellyfish:

1. Zygote
2. Planula (larva)
3. Polyp
4. Budding polyp
5. Ephyra
6. Medusa (adult)

Do Freshwater Jellyfish Sting?

Just like other jellyfish, freshwater jellyfish have stinging cells and they sting. They use their stinging cells to catch paralyze the prey and to feed on them.

They might be able to sting and paralyze smaller fish, however they are harmless to humans, because their stinging cells can’t penetrate the skin of an adult person.

That said, it is better not to touch them, because depending on the persons sensitivity level, the contact with a medusa can cause skin irritation and itching.

How to Catch Freshwater Jellyfish?

Never catch a jellyfish with your bare hands. You can use a net or a small plastic container to extract the jellyfish from the water.

Can You Keep Freshwater Jellyfish in Aquarium?

Yes, freshwater jellyfish can be kept in aquariums, though it might be difficult.

It is much harder to maintain a freshwater jellyfish aquarium than one with fish.

Jellyfish don’t like strong water flow, so a strong aquarium pump will harm them. Even a sponge filter can stuck the jellyfish onto the sponge.

I would not recommend keeping jellyfish together with other fish, because their stinging cells can easily kill the smaller tank mates.

If you want to setup a jellyfish aquarium, you should use at least a 20 gallon tank, with deep substrate and a water pump that slowly circulates the water.

Also make sure, that the water parameters are stable and there is plenty of food in the tank.

What do Freshwater Jellyfish Eat?

Jellyfish can’t eat just normal fish food, they will need live food. They prefer to eat brine shrimp, daphnia or other small water creatures.

Occasionally jellyfish will also eat smaller fish, such as guppy fry or other baby fish.

What are the Best Water Parameters for Freshwater Jellyfish?

The best water temperature for freshwater jellyfish is in the 68-77 °F (20-25 °C) range.

The pH of the water should be neutral, having a 6.5-7 pH range.

Can You Breed Freshwater Jellyfish in Aquarium?

While it is very difficult to keep the jellyfish alive in a home aquarium environment, their reproduction is even harder.

I’ve never heard someone to be able to breed freshwater jellyfish at home.

How to Tell if a Jellyfish is Male or Female?

Until full maturity, it is impossible to sex jellyfish. When they are ready to breed, there are some slight visible differences between males and females.

Do Fish Eat Freshwater Jellyfish?

Usually fish will avoid eating jellyfish, however crayfish or turtles will consume them.

Can You Keep Jellyfish in a Fish Pond?

In some areas, freshwater jellyfish naturally occur in fish ponds and for some pond owners, this might be a very unpleasant surprise.

Freshwater jellyfish will not harm bigger fish, but can paralyze smaller fish fry.

Because the lifespan of adult jellyfish are relatively short, they won’t cause too many problems in a natural pond.

In ponds, where water is filtered through a water pump, freshwater jellyfish might not be able to survive due to strong water flow.

What is the Lifespan of Freshwater Jellyfish?

The lifespan of freshwater jellyfish is not known exactly. One thing however is certain, that adult medusas will die off after they mate.

How much do Freshwater Jellyfish Weigh?

Freshwater jellyfish weigh between 3 to 5 grams (0.11 to 0.18 ounces), so they are not just very tiny but also very lightweight.

Wrapping Up

I really hope, that this article will help many people to learn about freshwater jellyfish.

Please leave a comment below if you have ever seen a freshwater jelly fish and tell us where you spotted it.