Jelly Cam

December 10, 2021 7:35 AM

A live view of the jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Light on plot, heavy on jellyfish.

Via this NYT newsletter that mentions watching the Jelly Cam as a healthy meditative habit from television writer Cord Jefferson

Previously: Stop hating jellyfish

posted by veggieboy (17 comments total)

I knew I got my kid a portable video projector for Xmas for a reason, I just didn't know what it was until now.
posted by gwint at 7:41 AM on December 10, 2021 [7 favorites]

I've used the California Academy of Sciences' Reef Lagoon Cam for similar calming purposes for years, because I love the way rays swim. I can totally confirm the value of the Jelly Cam.
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:50 AM on December 10, 2021 [1 favorite]

Moon jellies are superior. (SL Monterey Bay moon jelly cam)

I find their blobbiness delightful.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:53 AM on December 10, 2021 [2 favorites]

fiercekitten, thank you--agree completely that moon jellies are superior.
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:04 AM on December 10, 2021

We went to the aquarium for my daughter's birthday a couple of weeks ago and spent so much time looking at the jellies. Enough that I thought about getting a tank at home (but quickly decided it would be way too much of a commitment) and then decided that some kind of jelly live stream or even high quality screensaver might be the better way to go. So this post is quite timely for me.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 8:13 AM on December 10, 2021

I am loving the moon jellyfish cam. When I get to go to the Seattle aquarium, every now and then, the moon jellies are one of my favorite areas. They have basically a large ring tank with a doorway in it so you can stand and have moon jellies swim above and below and around you. And in less real spaces, on my Animal Crossing Island, I give moon jellyfish to all my animal friends so they keep jellyfish tanks in their houses and we all admire how lovely moon jellies are.
posted by blueberry monster at 8:21 AM on December 10, 2021

Live from Baltimore*

*During business hours
posted by Press Butt.on to Check at 8:34 AM on December 10, 2021 [1 favorite]

This is wonderfully relaxing. Kind of like a living lava lamp!
posted by pangolin party at 8:45 AM on December 10, 2021

Love. This.

I just put it up on the big monitor in our office, and my coworkers are like, there he goes again...

It blows my mind that these things are alive.
posted by Caxton1476 at 8:50 AM on December 10, 2021 [4 favorites]

haha jellies are cool but I was snorkeling in Baja last week and got stung by a bunch of tiny ones. I still have extremely itchy sting marks up and down both arms. but that's cool, I was invading their territory. jelly on, fellows!
posted by supermedusa at 8:55 AM on December 10, 2021 [1 favorite]

The first one I saw on camera had about 4 of those stringy tentacle-y things tied in a knot. That was not relaxing!
posted by Carmody'sPrize at 9:03 AM on December 10, 2021

haha jellies are cool but I was snorkeling in Baja last week and got stung by a bunch of tiny ones. I still have extremely itchy sting marks up and down both arms. but that's cool, I was invading their territory. jelly on, fellows!
posted by supermedusa at 8:55 AM on December 10

eponysterical!
posted by carrioncomfort at 9:05 AM on December 10, 2021 [5 favorites]

Wow, Monterey Bay Aquarium does a good job. I just saw their footage of a giant phantom jelly the other day and thought it was great. No live stream from 22,000 feet below sea level yet, but the short clip is worth watching.
posted by Lirp at 9:16 AM on December 10, 2021 [2 favorites]

How do they keep their trailing tentacle things from getting tangled in each other?
posted by Keith Talent at 10:57 AM on December 10, 2021

I am glad to know that the kelp forest cam makes me immediately nauseated, just like the real thing.
posted by that girl at 11:23 AM on December 10, 2021

The previous special exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium was on Jellies. The variety was what surprised me. Some were fast 'swimmers'. Others more languid. But the best of them, for me (I see your moonjellies and raise you @fiercekitten), was the

White Spotted Jellies.

When the special exhibit shifted to the recent one, called Underwater Beauty; this exhibit was held over. Mostly because this got the most oohs and aahs. When I am done with my volunteer shift; I usually wander over to see about three exhibits before moseying on out. This is always one of them. It is so peaceful.

Also, a bit of jellyfish exhibit trivia. All of the exhibits are shaped like spheres or cylinders; because any exhibit with corners will trap them otherwise.
posted by indianbadger1 at 12:04 PM on December 10, 2021 [1 favorite]

OMG the jellyfish exhibit at the Monterey Aquarium is amazing. I had to be pulled out that room - it's simply mesmerizing and kudos to the MA for making this available in these trying times!
posted by bluesky43 at 4:59 PM on December 10, 2021 [1 favorite]