Jellyfish-lovers, rejoice. There's no need to venture to an aquarium if you want to awe at the mystical creatures. Instead, the invertebrates can be kept right atop your desk, according to NBC Bay Area.
The filtration systems in traditional fish tanks cause jellyfish to get sucked in, but aquarium designer Alex Andon found a way to modify the water flow in smaller tanks so that the creatures can be kept afloat in the middle of their tanks, Gizmag reports.
According to NBC, scientists cracked this special water-flow system code for bigger aquariums years ago, but the Duke alumnus' alterations to non-commercial tanks will allow everyday people to keep jellyfish as pets.
Geek.com explains the circular water flow system featured in the Desktop Jellyfish Tank:
The Desktop Jellyfish Tank pulls water through a layer of rocks at the bottom of the tank. The water is then pulled up one side of the cylindrical tank to the surface. It then goes back down the other side and is sucked up once again by the rocks.
The tank and at-home kit are currently featured on Kickstarter in order to raise money for commercial production, Gizmodo reports. A $350 donation will snag you a spot on the waiting list. As of August 23, the company had received almost $85,000 in contributions.
Moon jellyfish, which are not harmful to humans, will be offered with the starter kit, according to Geek.com. The tank can fit about five of the creatures.
Not all people will be thrilled with these new tanks. Some may see this as putting jellyfish into a captive space for human enjoyment, and animal rights activists have often voiced their opposition to similar acts in the past.
This summer, San Francisco considered a goldfish ban to protect the animals from inhumane abuse. According to TIME, San Francisco Animal Control & Welfare Commission's Philip Gerrie said, "Most fish in aquariums are either mass bred under inhumane conditions or taken from the wild ... That leads to devastation of tropical fish from places like Southeast Asia."