When I was young, I kept Sea-Monkeys as pets. They were amazing!
If you haven’t seen these critters before, they aren’t actually tiny monkeys… (disappointing, I know). They’re a hybrid breed of brine shrimp. The idea of Sea-Monkeys is that you get to hatch the shrimp, watch them grow, and have your very own aquatic pets.
I did everything perfectly with my Sea-Monkeys. I sent away for numerous extras, including banana treats, a bubble aerator, and even a potion to make them fall in love and have babies.
No matter how hard I tried, however, they all started dying off. I always found them lying on the bottom of the tank curled up in dust. It was devastating.
Even so, the time I had with them was fascinating. It’s so fun watching them twirl and somersault in their little underwater land. They’re mesmerising.
Sea-Monkey Pets
Although I knew the Sea-Monkeys I bought for my daughter would probably suffer the same fate, I really wanted her to experience them for herself.
I found myself getting really excited when we bought the setup and my enthusiasm tends to rub off on my daughter. “They are instant live sea monkeys, baby, so we should see them hatch right away!”
Of course, I hadn’t read the packet.
We went outside with the setup, and as I started reading, I realised that we wouldn’t have instant live Sea-Monkeys straight away. The water purifier had to do its thing – a wait of 24 hours. The disappointment on my daughter’s face was obvious (and so was the annoyance on mine. I’m very impatient too).
Amazing Live Sea-Monkey Diary
Finally, the next day came around and we went straight outside to tip the Sea-Monkey eggs into the water and…
Nothing. All day we searched.
Day 2 – Nothing
Day 3 – Mummy squinting and pushing her nose up to tank for any movement… nothing.
Day 4 – There was something. Something tiny. A speck of movement in the water. One Sea-Monkey! I was excited. Miss L couldn’t see it.
Day 5 – A few more tiny specks swimming around in the water.
Again, I hadn’t read the packet properly. But when one reads the title ‘The world’s only instant pets!’ then, I’d assume they’re, well, instant. In tiny little letters it’s written that it can take up to 4-5 days!
All this hype and they didn’t hatch until day four.
Even though our Sea-Monkey journey started slowly, as they grew, which seemed almost daily, my daughter became more interested and enjoyed watching their little antics.
She didn’t become a crazy enthusiast like her mother was, but she enjoyed watching and feeding them. I enjoyed it alongside her.
Learning about Sea-Monkeys
They are now over a month old – we’ve learnt heaps about them!
We’ve discovered how they shed their skin to grow, why boy Sea-monkeys fight, how they *cough* make babies (the frisky things didn’t need potion this time) and all about baby Sea-Monkeys. Yes!
Say hello to the newest amazing live Sea-Monkey breeder! We have babies, with three Sea-Monkeys having eggs sacs.
Sea-Monkey with egg sac
No little Sea-Monkeys have died yet, either! That’s a win in my books.
It’s a great learning experience for children and a wonderful, interesting type of pet. Just try not to build your child’s expectations too high until the little tackers are swimming about in the tank.
Extension activities
The official Sea-monkey Website that includes information on:
- What sea-monkeys are
- Fun facts
- How to help sick sea monkeys
- Additional products
Have you kept Sea-Monkeys before? Have you built up your child’s expectations about something only to have disappointed them? Leave a comment below!
This is very interesting. Love your work Penny keep it up!!
I’ve never had sea monkeys – or even seen one live. I have heard about them, and think my little Miss 2 would love watching them grow, live and (at our house) probably die – but that’ s ok 🙂
This would be so much fun to experience with my children! I never grew as a child, so this will be a new experience all the way around!
Sea Monkeys! i never had them as a kid and soooooo wanted them, i must ask mum why we didnt. My boys havent had them either – definatley a must do (although i’ll have to prep the water earlier myself) 🙂
https://twitter.com/#!/MumsTakeFive/status/127132660152799234
Twitterererered you x
Sea Monkeys rock! We’ve had very limited luck with ours in the past, but would love to try again!
Shared on Facebook as The Simple Homemaker. Great Christmas present idea.
Penny – this is the perfect kind of pet for me and my family…you know that right.
No mess, no hair, no slobbery stuff left on furniture…Bring on the sea-monkeys!
PS – Great write up…I’m actually excited about the little tackers!!
Oh and I sent your sea-monkeys a twittering as well
I remember these! I have a feeling I had one that were circus themed…
These look totally amazing!
My aunty kept sea monkeys and I was fascinated by them as a child.
Shared on facebook (FB name Michelle Vamvas)
I have heard so much about sea monkeys but never seen them myself would be fascinating to have a sea monkey kit.
shared on twitter
Shared on FB as Chon Ky
Have also tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/queenofcomps/status/127486422314795008
shared on my blog facebook page 🙂
Would love my daughter to have sea monkeys! Recently our fish were killed by our turtle and our snake died. .. Sea monkeys Will enlighten!!!
I’m so glad you had success with your sea monkeys, and glad their advertising/information has improved at least a little….though I agree 4 days is a slight stretch of ‘instant’. Must have a look for these at the stores…might be a good holiday project 🙂
This looks like so much fun
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/beejay_61/status/127507366664085505
What a fantastic& interesting idea to keep the kids amused. Also shared on Facebook 🙂
ohhhh I had totally forgotton about Sea Monkeys until reading this, my 2.5 year would LOVE them!
How awesome !!!
I remember as a kid reading ads all the time on the back of comic books and wondering how a pet can be “instantly made with water”
Maybe sea monkeys will be a nice introduction for the twinlets…
I think my daughter would think these are pretty cool! She loves watching bugs and fishy things. She is not big on the touching of bugs so this would be perfect for her to watch. I have never had Sea Monkey’s and the only disappointing thing for Mini Me is when we planned to go to the beach and it rained.
Do you know Pen, I’ve wanted to buy the kids some of these but I was really dubious about what they were and how they’d go but I reckon I might get them some now. Although I’m a little *ahem* very impatient too so I’d hope that ours would hatch quicker than in 4 days. Love your work as always Madame Wildlife Warrior!!
“How to help sick sea monkeys” – Add more instant live!! I love Sea Monkeys 🙂 I had a tank on the sink back when Mr Optimism was still just my fiance… He topped it up with tap water and killed most of them. The survivors of the Great Tap Water Holocaust of 1999 were like super sea monkeys though, huge and lived for ages! If I don’t win the give away I’m buying myself a kit for Christmas…. 🙂
Tweet, tweet, tweet:0
Oh, I meant Instant life…. and I tweeted too – thank you 🙂
I have never had sea monkeys before but I always wanted them. My kids would love these!!
I know my little man would love these. He is absolutely obsessed by any kind of marine creature.
I think my kids would really get a kick out of these my youngest absolutly loves his fish tank he has 3 fish and a snail i think he would be most interested in sea monkeys
Sea monkeys are the perfect pet! No mess, no fuss, but wonderful to watch grow. Yeah for sea monkeys.
have tweeted @hootylishous
My kiddies have been asking for Sea Monkeys for Christmas, So this giveaway would be fantastic.
I’ve heard about sea monkeys too but never seen them. They look fascinating, I’d love to watch some of my own.
Ooooh I loved Sea Monkeys when I was younger. Have been thinking about buying Mr 2 a fish but this is definitely a better option!
Thank you so much! I am very thankful that my children will be able to learn/experience the Sea Monkeys! They are already so excited and want to learn about the little silly monkeys! Thank you again!
My kids and I have had the same sea monkey container since last Christmas. The key is not to overfeed and keep them on a safe windowsill. We must have had a few generations already! I can’t believe we still have them hatching eggs!
Thanks so much for the tips Shawnee! I have two boys left, which means no more sea monkeys. Very sad. We will get more one day and sit them on the windowsill as you suggested. Do you clean the bottom of the tank ever?
I was so a sea monkey addict when I was a teen! I’m thinking of getting some again as I think Miss K would love them