Sea-Monkeys are a species of brine shrimp that spring to life in a tank of distilled water. They are able to grow larger and live longer than natural brine shrimp. Toy stores sell Sea-Monkeys with all the equipment needed for them to thrive. With proper care, Sea-Monkeys can live up to two years.
Preparation
Make sure all necessary items are included in your kit. There should be a tank and three packages. The first package is the water purifier powder, the second contains the Sea-Monkeys, and the third is their food. The kit also should contain a food scoop.
Preparing the Tank
Carefully rinse the tank with hot water. Boil tap water or use bottled drinking water to fill the tank. Pour the water purifier package into the tank and stir for one minute or until the powder completely dissolves. Allow the tank to sit for 24 hours. This allows the purifier to clean any bacteria or impurities from the water before adding the Sea-Monkeys.
Adding Sea-Monkeys
Pour the Sea-Monkey packet into the water and stir for one full minute or until the contents are fully dissolved. Place the tank near a north-facing window, but not in direct sunlight. Indirect sunlight will promote algae growth in the tank. Place the lid on the tank to prevent water evaporation. The optimal water temperature for hatching the eggs is between 75 and 80 degrees. The eggs may begin to hatch after 72 hours, but can take weeks to hatch.
Feeding
Wait five days and use the small end of the feeding spoon to add the Sea-Monkey food to the water. Then feed the them weekly. Avoid over-feeding as too much food will make the water cloudy. Feed Sea-Monkeys only the food provided. Additional food is available for purchase on the Sea-Monkey website. As Sea-Monkeys grow and reproduce, they will require more food. Increase the amount given weekly by using the larger end of the feeding spoon.
Maintenance
The water in the tank will slowly evaporate. Refill with distilled water or water that has been boiled and cooled to the tank temperature. There is no need to change the water. Purchase an Aqua-Leash if the kit does not provide one. This is a device to suck up the Sea-Monkeys if transfer to another tank is necessary. It also provides a method to suction debris from the bottom of the tank.
Tags: brine shrimp, distilled water, feeding spoon, minute until, Place tank, water purifier