SMALL WONDER
Sea-Monkey
initially marketed as “Instant Life”, Sea-Monkeys are sold in hatching kits as aquarium pets. These creatures whose tails resemble those of monkeys (hence the name), are actually acquired from a species of brine shrimp, artemia salina. These shrimp live in salt lakes or salt flats. When water evaporates, the shrimp undergo cryptobiosis, meaning they enter a state of suspended animation and are in a protective cyst-like casing, until water is added.
Fascinated by this “magical” breed, in 1957, Harold von Braunhut, with the help of microcrustacean expert Anthony D'Agostino, figured out a way to treat tap water with a mix of nutrients that would revive the shrimp in a tank at home.
After experimenting and hybridising different species of artemia salina, the duo successfully created Sea-Monkeys, an artificial breed also known as Artemia New York Ocean Science (NYOS).
Each hatching kit comes with three packets: A water purifier, instant live eggs, and growth food. To grow an aquarium of Sea-Monkeys, add the packet labelled 'Water Purifier' into a tank of water. This packet contains salt, water conditioner, and some brine shrimp eggs.
After 24 hours, pour in the contents of a packet labelled 'Instant Life Eggs', which contains more eggs, yeast, borax, soda, salt, some food and sometimes a dye, into the tank. Shortly after, Sea-Monkeys hatch from the eggs that were in the
'Water Purifier' packet, and 'Growth Food' containing yeast and spirulina is then added every few days.
Like other types of crustaceans, a SeaMonkey’s diet consists of phytoplankton and algae. Alternatively, they feed on powdered algae, powdered yeast, hardboiled egg yolks and wheat flour. Green algae in the tank is a good thing as they provide food and oxygen. Thus, water only
needs to be changed when it looks cloudy and smells foul. Remove any white spots and aerate the water twice a day.
Sea-Monkeys are translucent, which means that their digestive tract is highly visible. When their digestive tract is full of food, there’ll be an obvious black stripe down the middle of their body. As such, their digestive tract is a good measure as to how regularly they should be fed.
These artificial shrimp are born with one eye and grow two more upon reaching maturity.
They breathe through their feathery feet and can reproduce asexually or sexually. Naturally attracted to light, legend has it that they can perform tricks. Turn off the lights and switch on a small flashlight. Move the light around the tank to get them to "dance", and perhaps even do a few somersaults.
Intriguing to watch and easy to maintain, these tiny creatures were a favourite household pet back in the 1960s when they first hit stores.
Interestingly enough, tiny as they are, Sea-Monkeys actually went to space with American astronaut John Glenn in 1998 and hatched weeks later, unaffected by their travels.