Buzz
Sea monkeys are neither monkeys nor do they inhabit the sea. They are a type of brine shrimp, first bred in the 1950s, and quickly gained popularity as easy-to-care-for pets and nutritious live food for fish. Sea monkeys hatch in chlorine-free saltwater and typically emerge within 24 hours, growing into tiny, translucent shrimp with tails resembling those of monkeys. While they are low-maintenance pets, it is essential to keep their water clean and ensure they receive adequate oxygen.
Steps
Set Up the Tank
Use a clean plastic container. Many sea monkey egg kits come with a small plastic tank for hatching and housing the sea monkeys. If your kit does not include a tank, you can use a clean plastic container that holds at least 2 liters of water. Choose a container with a deep base, as sea monkeys prefer swimming near the bottom.
Pour 2 liters of distilled water into the tank. You can use bottled water, distilled water, or any chlorine-free water. Avoid carbonated or tap water, as they often contain fluoride and other minerals that may harm sea monkeys.
- Once the water is added, place the tank indoors to allow the water to warm up to room temperature. This ensures the water is warm enough for the eggs to hatch.
- You should also aerate the tank at least 1-2 times daily.
Add water purifier to the tank. The water purifier is a packet of salt included in the sea monkey egg kit purchased from stores or online. This purifier contains salt, a crucial element for sea monkeys to hatch and thrive.
- When adding the salt packet to the water, stir it well and let the tank sit at room temperature for another day or 36 hours before adding the eggs.
Add the egg packet to the water and wait for them to hatch.
Use a clean plastic spoon to stir the water after adding the eggs. Sea monkey eggs appear as tiny specks in the water. Don’t worry—they will hatch within 5 days and start swimming around the tank.
- Aerate the tank at least 1-2 times daily while waiting for the eggs to hatch to ensure sufficient oxygen for their growth and hatching.
Feeding Sea Monkeys
Start feeding sea monkeys on the 5th day after hatching. Instead of feeding them immediately after hatching, wait 5 days and begin feeding on the fifth day. Sea monkey food is usually included in the egg kit.
- Use the small end of the feeding spoon to sprinkle one spoonful of food into the tank. Feed sea monkeys one small spoonful of food every two days. Avoid using fish food or other types of food not specifically designed for sea monkeys.
Feed sea monkeys their specialized food every 5 days. To keep sea monkeys healthy and active, feed them every 5 days. Avoid overfeeding, as excessive food can lead to their death.
- Sea monkeys have transparent bodies, allowing you to observe their digestive system. When their digestive tract is full, you’ll notice a dark line running through their bodies. Once waste is expelled, their digestive tract becomes clear again.
Reduce feeding if algae grows in the tank. Over time, green algae will naturally develop in the tank, and the water may emit a fresh grass-like scent. This is beneficial, as algae serves as a food source for sea monkeys and promotes their health. Once algae forms, you can switch to feeding them once a week.
- There’s no need to clean the tank when algae grows. A green, algae-filled tank is actually healthy and beneficial for sea monkeys.
Tank Maintenance
Aerate the tank twice daily. Sea monkeys require oxygen to thrive. Without sufficient oxygen, they may turn pinkish and become sluggish. To ensure proper oxygen levels, aerate the tank twice daily, morning and evening, using a small aquarium pump. Submerge the pump and aerate for at least 1 minute each session.
- Alternatively, use a small hand pump to aerate the tank. Squeeze the pump in the air, then dip it into the water to release air bubbles. Repeat this process for at least 1 minute, twice daily.
- For a DIY aeration tool, repurpose an unused lab dropper. Poke a hole in the tip and create multiple small holes. Use a needle or pin to make holes in different directions, then remove the pin.
- If daily aeration is inconvenient, consider adding small aquatic plants to the tank. Choose oxygen-producing underwater plants to naturally maintain oxygen levels.
Place the tank in a warm location. Sea monkeys dislike environments that are too cold or too hot. Keep the tank indoors in indirect sunlight with a temperature of at least 22°C. This ensures the tank remains warm enough without becoming too cold.
- A tank that’s too cold will cause sea monkeys to become inactive and stunt their growth. If they aren’t moving or growing, relocate the tank to a warmer spot in your home. Indirect sunlight provides warmth without overheating.
Only change the water if it becomes cloudy or foul-smelling. Green algae in the tank is beneficial, as it serves as food and provides oxygen for sea monkeys. However, clean the tank and water if it starts to smell or turns dark and murky.
- You’ll need a coffee filter and a cup of chlorine-free saltwater. Use a net to transfer the sea monkeys to the clean water.
- Place the coffee filter over a clean tank and pour the tank water through it multiple times to remove debris.
- Use a paper towel to wipe the tank’s bottom and sides. A cotton swab can help clean hard-to-reach areas.
- Smell the water to ensure it’s odor-free, then return it to the tank along with the sea monkeys. Add filtered water at room temperature. Feed and aerate the tank multiple times that day, then resume the normal feeding schedule after five days.
Keeping Sea Monkeys Healthy and Happy
Remove white spots from the tank promptly. If you notice cotton-like white spots in the water, remove them as soon as possible. These are harmful bacteria that can kill sea monkeys. Use a small spoon to scoop them out and discard them.
- You can use Sea Medic to eliminate remaining bacteria. If bacteria persist after 1-2 days, clean the tank and replace the water. Some baby sea monkeys or eggs may be lost, but this may be the only way to eradicate the bacteria.
Use a small flashlight to make sea monkeys dance and swim. A small flashlight or penlight can be used to play with sea monkeys. Shine the light into the tank and watch them chase it as you move it around. They may also gather around a stationary light beam.
- Create fun patterns with the light, and the sea monkeys will swim along, forming entertaining shapes.
Observe sea monkeys mating. Males have whisker-like appendages, while females often carry eggs. Sea monkeys mate frequently, so don’t be surprised if you see them pairing up while swimming. This indicates reproduction, and more sea monkeys will soon be born.
- Most sea monkeys live for about two years, but their high reproduction rate ensures a steady population in the tank, provided you maintain proper care.
