VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — While most of us dread seeing one of these slimy sea dwellers when we’re swimming, it’s a treat to watch them in the jellyfish tank at the Virginia Aquarium.
“These are new residents. They are South American nettles. They are found on both coasts of South America,” said Robert Donovan, exhibit technician at the Virginia Aquarium. “They have this wonderful pattern on their bells that is stunning, really.”
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These graceful, leggy beauties have no bones and are made up of 95% water. They are one of the largest nettle species in the world and can grow to be 30 inches wide.
“A nettle is a type of jelly. There are some distinguishing features—typically this long tentacle and the frilly oral arms in the center,” Donovan said
They eat plankton, baby shrimp, and fish eggs.
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“When they sting us, is that deliberate? Are they trying to hunt us down? Jellies sting whatever they touch. They don’t actively seek out anyone; they don’t know what’s going on. They have no brain,” said [insert quote source]. “They can’t seek out prey; they are passive feeders,” Donovan said.
They immobilize their prey with venom from their nettles.
So, if you do get stung by a jelly at the beach, “rinse it with salt water or use vinegar, or you can bring meat tenderizer with you and use that to help neutralize the sting,” Donovan advised.
The other new squishy fish on the block is the Australian white-spotted jelly. These energetic sea aliens are true jellies — no long tentacles here, just small ones, only about two inches across.
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There’s a whole wing dedicated to jellies, and it’s a fan favorite for snapping pics that are Instagram-worthy.
“They’re a great opportunity for our guests to see, and a great opportunity for our team to care for a new species,” Donovan said.
The Virginia Aquarium and its variety of sea life is a great way to beat the heat and is positively Hampton Roads.
