Flame Jellyfish (Rhopilema esculentum)
Overview
Flame jellyfish (Rhopilema esculentum) is a hardy species of jellyfish characterised by their red appendages which look like flames. The jellyfish start out almost transparent then develop a milky coloured bell and bright red tentacles as they age. The sting of this jellyfish is designed to catch small planktonic organisms and would not generally be noticeable to a human but some people can have a reaction to it and it can bring them out in a rash/welts. We recommend appropriate care is taken when handling all jellyfish species so that they do not come into contact with your skin. These jellyfish are one of the common species that are commonly dried and eaten in Asia.
Species Information
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Harmful to humans: No
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Distribution: Western Japan, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea
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Maximum Bell Size: 50 cm (20 inches)
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Life Span: 1 year
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Feeding: Freshly hatched baby brine shrimp, coral reef food
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Temperature: 18 – 24°C (65 – 75°F)
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Salinity: 25-34ppt
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Photosynthetic: No
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Care level: Easy
Notes: Very energetic species which requires a lot of food to grow. 2-3 times per day feeding is recommended to for them to grow healthily. They prefer lower salinity than normal salinity.