Meet the Makers from MAKE Volume 27: Alex Andon

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Meet the Makers from MAKE Volume 27: Alex Andon


Above: Alex Andon with a jellyfish tank you can make at home. Photograph by Garry McLeod

Alex Andon is the founder and president of Jellyfish Art. He has a B.S. from Duke University in biology and environmental science. His article in MAKE Volume 27 shows you how to convert a standard aquarium into a habitat that can support jellyfish.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=fU604ByjK0Q
One of Alex’s beautiful desktop jellyfish tanks that he makes.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I live in San Francisco and run an e-commerce business, called Jellyfish Art, selling pet jellyfish. On the weekends, I like archery and table tennis.

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How did you become interested in jellyfish?

Through studying marine biology at Duke. Anatomically, they’re incredibly simple animals, yet they’ve been around for about 500 million years. I had always despised jellyfish as a kid because their painful stings would keep me out of the water all summer. But when I first saw them displayed at a public aquarium, I realized how beautiful and mesmerizing they are. When I learned they need a special aquarium design in order to live in captivity, I was intrigued by the challenge and started experimenting with different designs in my garage.

Here’s a video of one of Alex’s jellyfish capturing a fish.

Can you tell us about one of your favorite tools?

The Dremel is my favorite because it’s a janky quick substitute for just about any other tool.


From the Pages of MAKE

MAKE 27MAKE Volume 27, Robots!
The robots have returned! MAKE Volume 27 features a special package with robotics projects for every age and skill level. They play music; they outwit your pets; they learn from their mistakes! In addition, we’ll show you how to build a special aquarium to keep jellyfish, create pre-Edison incandescent lighting, spy via the internet, and make a go-anywhere digital message board! All this and much, much more, in MAKE Volume 27.

On newsstands now! Buy or Subscribe

2 thoughts on “Meet the Makers from MAKE Volume 27: Alex Andon

  1. AMalePoet says:

    Though the jellyfish is beautiful. I question the household with children or determined cats who have to treat verses stings.

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Mark Frauenfelder is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Make: magazine, and the founder of the popular Boing Boing blog.

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