Where can you delve into a world where gelatinous creatures glow or come in various shades of the rainbow? The Aquarium of the Pacific is celebrating the beauty, diversity, and soul-soothing qualities of hundreds of sea jellies from around the world in a new exhibit this summer. Jelly Dreamscapes will open on May 23, 2026, and continue through April 30, 2027. Guests will be able to witness one of the most diverse collections of sea jellies in the United States and learn about how Aquarium staff provides state-of-the-art animal care for these remarkable gelatinous creatures.
Visitors will be able to drift through the newly reimagined Pacific Visions gallery to get up-close with sea jellies amidst meditative lighting and dream-like soundscapes. Guests of all ages will be able to learn more about colorful sea jellies, sea nettles with free-flowing tentacles, and ctenophores that glow underwater, plus the opportunity to touch moon jellies at the Aquarium’s outdoor touch lab on Harbor Terrace.
Sea jellies seen at the Aquarium represent those found in coastal habitats and in the deep sea in geographic regions that include North America, Japan, Fiji, and beyond. In addition, guests can discover the diversity of sea jellies in a new film that will play throughout the day in the Aquarium’s Great Hall. As guests explore Jelly Dreamscapes, they can learn how Aquarium staff have successfully cultured numerous sea jelly species.
These ethereal creatures have existed for more than 500 million years and have adapted to every ocean environment on Earth. Sea jellies are not fish, but invertebrates – animals without backbones. They are composed of protein, mineral salts, and ninety-five percent water. While they have no heart, brain, or gills, they have an umbrella-like body with a network of sensory nerve cells, tentacles, and oral arms. Depending on the species, a sea jelly may have up to 1,200 tentacles.
Due to the groundbreaking work of its animal care staff, the Aquarium is able to propagate and raise over forty species of sea jellies in spaces specially designed for each stage of their life cycle. Staff members culture or grow the nutritious food that sea jellies need to thrive, tailoring each species’ diet to mirror what they eat in the wild, and feeding them three to four times a day. These efforts are all part of the Aquarium’s commitment to sustainable aquaculture, or the cultivation of aquatic species, and providing state-of-the-art care to all of its animals.
“Our animal care staff monitors habitat lighting, water temperature, salinity, pH, and more to ensure that these delicate creatures are appropriately cared for,” said Nate Jaros, vice president of animal care, fish and invertebrates. “They work hard behind the scenes to meet each species’ specific needs.”
Some sea jellies are also an indicator species whose presence can inform on if ocean water is healthy or balanced. The nerves in their external layer form a nerve net, which can detect changes in water chemistry. Sea jellies are also eaten by many kinds of fish and sea turtles, making them important for a healthy and balanced ecosystem.
As an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited organization, the Aquarium of the Pacific meets and exceeds the rigorous standards of care set for its animals, including sea jellies. The Aquarium participates in AZA’s Aquatic Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group to help further knowledge about these gelatinous creatures and other invertebrates.
Credit: The Aquarium of the Pacific.
