Pink Meanie
Drymonema larsoni
A peculiar jellyfish with an equally peculiar name. The "pink" part is self explanatory, these animals are often a bright shade of mauve or pink. But why the meanie? A closer look at their biology may reveal some clues. Pink meanies are a rare and enigmatic species that live almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico. Showing up in late summer and disappearing by December, their presence is brief. One of the most fascinating parts of their existence is their diet. They exclusively feed on other species of jellyfish- moon jellyfish in particular.
Caring for Pink Meanies
Caring for these jellies can be a challenge! The first obstacle is of course diet. Wild specimens consume several moon jellies a day so there must be a stable supply of moons available. Secondly, they are essentially a giant pink fluff ball of tentacles. Their mouth arms are specially designed to envelop and digest other jellyfish and the underside of their bell is armed with hundreds of long tentacles. Pink meanies stick to anything and everything which can be a major issue. They also grow to be 4-5 feet in diameter. It is possible to gather smaller specimens earlier in the season but if fed well, they will gain size very quickly.
Stocking density: Ideally one per aquarium. Multiple animals will stick to each other and tangle quite easily.
Flow: Higher flow can help prevent sticking to the bottom or side walls. Play with the flow some until they are moving around the tank freely but not being pushed around aggressively.
Feeding: Feed at least one moon jellyfish per day.
Compatibility with other species: Pink meanies will try to consume any other species kept with them.