Sea-Monkeys! / myLot

Canada

October 8, 2006 3:33pm CST

Do you remember or have Sea-Monkeys? If not, I'll explain: one used to be able to order them from the back of comic books for about 50 cents, and they came (in powder form) in a little envelope. Just add water, and *ta-da*! In a couple of days, they were big enough to see with the unaided eye. Essentially, they are a form of shrimp (from the brine shrimp family, as I am told)and they have the ability to exist in "suspended animation" (lay dormant) for many years until conditions are right for their eggs to hatch. So here's my question: who else loves Sea-Monkeys? I currently have 3 colonies going, and am about to start a fourth. They are quite relaxing to watch, and require so little care for so much enjoyment! They are very graceful little swimmers, and my cats can be entertained for hours (as can I) just watching them. Any Sea-Monkey experiences to share? And am I crazy for being 28 years old and still thinking they're "the coolest"?

11 responses

Pythonis

@Pythonis (233)

• United States

17 Oct 06

I had sea monkeys once, but the catskept knocking over the tank and it was hard to save them. Apparently they make really good fish food.

sedel1027

@sedel1027 (17846)

• Cupertino, California

17 Oct 06

They sell them frozen for fish, or you can buy hactheries. Apparently, they are really hard to grow in the hactheries.

mcc371

@mcc371 (918)

• United States

15 Oct 06

I have tried several times as a kid to raise the sea monkeys but never had any luck and never saw anything swimming. You say you are on your fourth colony is this from breeding them or you bought four batches at the store. Please explain..I would like to get some more and try again . Also, They are still available year around at Hobby Lobby and so is the crystal rocks too. They have an arupting volcano now that is pretty cool. Childhood Memories...Priceless.

@Weasel_Sponge (1069)

• Canada

15 Oct 06

The average colony will live for two years, meaning they will breed and keep the group going for about two years. Then, if you let the water evaporate completely and just add more bottled water (at room temperature), the eggs that were left at the bottom of the tank from the evaporation will usually hatch, and you can start them again. I'm not sure why they will only continuing actively breeding and hatching for two years, but based on my university courses in bio, I'm guessing it has something to do with the terminal number of a species that can exist in an environment/given area, and the contamination or purity of the water at this point (it's very difficult to "clean" a Sea-Monkey tank without harming the little guys.) Anyway, my three existing colonies are from packages, while my fourth is going to be a "regeneration" from a previous group. Search for Sea-Monkeys on the web and you'll find the "official website", or many of the enthusiast groups-they have lots of tips on growing and keeping your Sea-Monkeys going for as long as possible.

hdyggs

@hdyggs (685)

• United States

15 Nov 06

28 right!!

right

rishal

@rishal (354)

• India

17 Oct 06

hmmm........

highflyingxangel

@highflyingxangel (9225)

• United States

11 Jan 07

I only experienced one colony myself, but I never could get them to grow to a larger size. It was rather disappointing to me when I did want them to grow up to be rather big and thriving and with their own little sea monkey family. Since I could never get them to grow, I never really could enjoy them. I wish I would have had a chance however. Would have been interesting really.

sea monkies

kc_159_98

@kc_159_98 (144)

• United States

2 Feb 07

Nah, your not crazy. Well, okay maybe a little, but I'm right there with you. I got my first kit yesterday at walmart. I remember my cousin had some years ago when we were all little, but I always had mice and hampters. I can't wait to be able to see them! Thanks for letting me know that there are others out there and that they really will grow.

@sedel1027 (17846)

• Cupertino, California

17 Oct 06

I had a ton of sea monkeys. We also had the crystals that someone mentioned above. Have you seen the newest thing. They are some kind of trilobytes they grow like sea monkeys except they get BIG...like 4-5 inches long. The look like really creepy horseshoe crabs. I bought them for my son a few months ago at Target, those things creeped me out!