jellyfish!

**kimbo** · 04-15-2010, 09:17 AM

just as my kids and i were about to go running into the water, we spotted several jellyfish. then we noticed a boy on the beach with a net, turns out he was catching the jellies. after watching him for a while and marvelling at the sheer numbers of them out there, another pair of boys came running over with a bucket, with a *very* large jellyfish inside. the jellies in the water weren't very big, they were round and had brown lines going around the edge from the outside to the inside. the one in the bucket was totally different looking (to me) was very large and didn't seem to have any brown lines.

i was wondering if there was someone out there on sowal who would be willing to explain this to me so i can then explain it to my kids. any links to check out would also be appreciated. my questions are: why are there so many? were all the smaller ones babies? were there 2 different species of jellies? any idea how long this "invasion" will be taking place? does it make a difference how north or south you go to get away from the jellies?

thanks so much sowalers!
**we were at blue mountain beach

**Michmash** · 04-15-2010, 10:01 AM

There are several types of jellies that are common here. This is a pretty good site: Jellyfish | Florida | photos

**Beach Runner** · 04-15-2010, 04:28 PM

There were so many jellyfish at the beach last week that I was afraid to walk my dog at the water's edge. She seemed sad.

When I say "beach," she perks up and runs over to where her leash is.

Hope they go away soon, kimbo, so you don't have to be worried about them.

**Jdarg** · 04-15-2010, 04:55 PM

We have only been seeing cannonballs and moonjellies- no sea nettles. Fortunately the first 2 are pretty harmless. Also the small clear discs (look like silicone breast implants)- the kids pick them up and throw them at each other!

**Beach Runner** · 04-16-2010, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by jdarg

We have only been seeing cannonballs and moonjellies- no sea nettles. Fortunately the first 2 are pretty harmless. Also the small clear discs (look like silicone breast implants)- the kids pick them up and throw them at each other!

**Jdarg** · 04-16-2010, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

Well they do!

Everybody was in the water last Sunday in Grayton, and I didn't hear anybody whining about stings.

**kimbo** · 04-16-2010, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

There were so many jellyfish at the beach last week that I was afraid to walk my dog at the water's edge. She seemed sad.

When I say "beach," she perks up and runs over to where her leash is.

Hope they go away soon, kimbo, so you don't have to be worried about them.

aww, beachrunner, i feel so sad for your doggie!

**kimbo** · 04-16-2010, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by jdarg

We have only been seeing cannonballs and moonjellies- no sea nettles. Fortunately the first 2 are pretty harmless. Also the small clear discs (look like silicone breast implants)- the kids pick them up and throw them at each other!

thank you jdarg because i looked at the link that was provided earlier by michmash and i couldn't figure out which ones were the ones that i saw, lol! ok, so the small clear disk ones are the cannonballs, and you are exactly right, they look just like breast implants! ok cool, glad to know they aren't too dangerous. it's the kids' last day of spring break so we're thinking of trying okaloosa island to get away from the jellies. if that doesn't pan out, perhaps we'll just take our chances.

**Jdarg** · 04-16-2010, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by kimbo

thank you jdarg because i looked at the link that was provided earlier by michmash and i couldn't figure out which ones were the ones that i saw, lol! ok, so the small clear disk ones are the cannonballs, and you are exactly right, they look just like breast implants! ok cool, glad to know they aren't too dangerous. it's the kids' last day of spring break so we're thinking of trying okaloosa island to get away from the jellies. if that doesn't pan out, perhaps we'll just take our chances.

Get in the water- any sting you will feel is more of an irritation. The water should be clear enough to see them. Just stay away from anything with long tentacles! The past couple of years have been extra "jelly fishy", but it doesn't stop us from getting in the water- we rarely see the ones that hurt.

**kimbo** · 04-16-2010, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by jdarg

Get in the water- any sting you will feel is more of an irritation. The water should be clear enough to see them. Just stay away from anything with long tentacles! The past couple of years have been extra "jelly fishy", but it doesn't stop us from getting in the water- we rarely see the ones that hurt.

thank you to jdarg and everyone else for your great responses, due to the input here we all decided to jump in the water. there were tons of those lil disk shaped jellies all along the shore line, but we didn't see a single tentacled one, and once we got past the break point they were no longer an issue and we had a really fun time playing in the waves. no one got stung either! the feeling of them hitting your legs were a lil creepy at first, but it was well worth dealing with it. the kids ended up throwing them at each other too.

thanks again for y'alls input, it is *much* appreciated!!