When was the last time you thought about Sea Monkeys? It’s been a while. We’d like to change that and propose the idea that sea monkeys may be the easiest first pet for children. This may come as a surprise, but sea monkeys have enjoyed a steady popularity over the years. In fact, like many things that were popular in the ’90s, kids today seem to be drawn to these aquatic creatures.
Of course, kids always seem to want pets. They can’t keep their room clean or forget to brush their teeth, but they think they can take care of rodents, cats, and dogs. why? So the next time your child begs for a pet, you might want to tell them they lost their little heart. Again, it might be easier to just say “yes.” At least you’ll be free from whining, probably for a short period of time. Conditions: You choose your pet. (Insert Wicked Witch’s laughter here.)
The best pets for busy parents are those that require minimal effort and can survive being forgotten for a day. Fish are many people’s first pets, but don’t rush them. There are other options as well. Something like a pet rock. Or the aforementioned Sea Monkeys. Seriously. Both basically require very little work or setup.
Have we started turning the wheels in our heads? Here’s what you need to know before dropping $10.
What is a Sea Monkey?
The follow-up question is always “Aren’t sea monkeys brine shrimp?” The answer is, well, kind of? These are actually “artificial hybrids” of brine shrimp created to be able to undergo a process called “cryptobiosis.” Sea-Monkeys is their brand name, so to speak.
Essentially, the powder in Sea Monkey packets is brine shrimp eggs in suspended animation. When you put the powders into (purified) water, they “hatch” and begin to grow. why? Because it’s a more livable environment. Eventually, the little monkey-tailed creature will eat, grow, look at you with all three eyes, and even reproduce. All with one shake of the packet, which is about the same size as a yeast pack.
Which brings me to my next question.
Wait, then why are they called sea monkeys?
They are not monkeys and do not live in the ocean. So what’s the name? To uncover the reason for this strange nickname, we must start with its origin story.
In 1957, a man named Harold von Braunhut entered a pet store and noticed that an overlooked tank of brine shrimp was being used as food for the store’s fish. What he saw in that moment was an opportunity to teach children about the wonders of nature. He started experimenting with that kind of thing (artemia salina), and eventually find a way to save and revive them. When he first introduced them to the world in 1960, he called them “Instant Life.”
But he soon came up with a more adorable and catchy name for these little creatures. “When we looked at these animals, we realized that they were the cutest animals in the world, and they had little monkey-like tails,” von Braunhut said in an interview. “‘That’s a cute little sea monkey,’ he said. So I had a patent attorney check the trademark register, and the patent attorney said, ‘Hey, sea monkeys don’t exist.’ That was in 1964.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
What do sea monkeys eat?
Sea monkeys don’t need much to survive. They feed on two very simple ingredients that should be in your sea monkey kit, but probably also in many kitchens: yeast and spirulina. In other words, you don’t have to make a special trip to a fancy pet store to keep them alive.
Are sea monkeys dangerous?
You don’t have to worry about Sea-Monkey attacking you. They are harmless to humans and the environment. Even if you accidentally drop your Sea Monkey down a drain (or into your drink), it poses no threat to anyone or anything. Now you can put to rest all your terrifying fantasies about sea monkeys getting under your skin. They cannot live outside of water and cannot bite humans. Remember, they’re just small shrimp.
But what is the life cycle of a sea monkey?
If you think your sea monkeys started out in the dust, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that they only grow to about half an inch long. Over the course of their lives, sea monkeys go from having only one eye to having three eyes. And yes, they can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Honestly, there are very few things you need to do to ensure your Sea-Monkey family continues to grow.
Even if the mother sea monkey dies, the babies continue to grow and eventually hatch. They can also drop their egg sacs if they feel attacked, and the egg sacs can survive on their own. It’s pretty bad, isn’t it? But what else could you expect from a creature that starts its life inside a paper carton? They’re incredibly resilient little nuisances.
How long do sea monkeys live?
According to the official Sea-Monkeys website, Sea-Monkeys can live up to a year. However, due to their unique life-sustaining abilities, it is not uncommon for tank populations to continue to thrive for up to five years. Will I have the same sea monkey on day 1,825 that I had on day 1? Oh no. But they’re all so nondescript that it’s nearly impossible to track them down and know who’s who. That is, as generations pass, your children are much less likely to become attached or hurt.
Of course, I still sometimes find dead sea monkeys, but it’s always a little sad. For this reason, it is worth noting that many people offer to go to the pet store and buy ordinary cheap brine shrimp, which you can secretly replace when necessary.
Speaking of shrimp, can sea monkeys eat it?
Hmm…yes. Weird people. Brine shrimp are edible. However, it has no nutritional value and is very small, so it is better to drink it as is. *Gag* Please stop this.
What if I think my child is bored?
Once in a while, name a pet that doesn’t get bored. Your cat probably ignores you half the day. My dog is old and doesn’t like to be walked or fetched anymore. Your fish is literally just swimming around in the tank.
Indeed, sea monkeys also just swim in the tank. But is it worth the distinction? Sea monkeys are sensitive to light. Using a small flashlight, you can make the animal move, jump, and swim in circles. They may not react with the same ferocity as a cat with a laser pointer. But it’s still pretty fun. Oh, and tell your child that these creatures breathe through their feet, and they’ll probably think that’s cool too.
So where can you buy Sea Monkey?
Almost every place you can buy toys and pets for your kids. They also often show up at places like Target and Walmart. It is also sold at many online retailers including the OG Sea-Monkeys site.
What is the difference between male and female sea monkeys?
Now that you’ve launched the Sea-Monkeys, your child may be wondering which one is a girl or a boy. Thankfully, there are several ways to tell these brine shrimp apart. Male sea monkeys are usually smaller than females. Female sea monkeys also have an egg sac and a rounded abdomen (similar to a queen bee).
Can sea monkeys survive in space?
If your little one is thinking about traveling to space, don’t worry. Sea monkeys are fine. On October 29, 1996, astronaut John Glenn brought 400 million sea monkey eggs on a space expedition. The eggs and Glenn were in space for about nine days, but they were safe when they hatched on Earth eight weeks later. (That’s one small step for humans, one giant leap for sea monkeys, right?)
This article was first published
