Sea monkeys are low-maintenance pets that are great for beginners, especially children. These tiny critters are actually brine shrimp, and their habitat consists of a small plastic tank, distilled water with a water purifier added, and plenty of room for them to hatch and swim.
Sea monkeys usually come in packs of eggs, so you get to experience the joy of hatching them as well as caring for them after they hatch.
The Water Tells All
After your sea monkeys hatch, you need to keep an eye on the color and condition of the water. While the purifier was added in the beginning, this was a one-time formula designed to assist with their hatching.
Once they hatch, only distilled water should be used. There is no need to add salt to the water because this is naturally added when you hatch them from a packet.
There could be natural discoloration because of the food and the waste, but this should subside once the sea monkeys begin eating regularly. It does not need to be a cause of concern because the sea monkeys will adjust to their habitat and balance the condition of the water on their own.
If you notice the water getting cloudy, this is a sign to cut back on feeding. This means that there is too much food for them to eat at once. You do not have to worry about them going hungry because there are plenty of algae inside of the tank that you might not even be able to see!
There is no need to periodically change your sea monkeys’ water, but it is recommended that you aerate the tank twice a day. Just like us, sea monkeys need oxygen to survive healthily.
Any pet store should sell a simple air bubbler you can use to do this. Alternatively, you can also use a turkey baster to create air bubbles. Be very careful with this method, as your sea monkeys are tiny and you risk the potential of sucking them into the baster.
Understand the Components
Hatching sea monkeys is an amazing process, mainly because you just get to sit back and watch! It is still important that you understand what is in each packet while this happens.
Even though your actions are limited to feeding the sea monkeys and making sure that they have enough oxygen in the tank, there are still signs you need to look out for to gauge their overall health and well-being.
The water purifier contains a simple mixture of salt, a water conditioner, and sea monkey eggs. They are known for being “instant pets” because the eggs are so tiny that it is surprising when they hatch into fast-moving critters immediately. The packet that is labeled “instant life eggs” is actually more eggs, borax, baking soda, salt, and yeast.
After the sea monkeys hatch, there is a “growth food” packet that contains more yeast and spirulina. This food is only necessary to add to the tank once a week because a single packet creates plenty of algae for the tiny sea monkeys to feast on.
To continue their feeding routine, you can buy an inexpensive bottle of sea monkey food at your local pet store. These flakes are plentiful and will last you a very long time since you are only feeding the sea monkeys once a week.
Basic sea monkey food can be ordered online. It contains all of the daily nutrients that sea monkeys need. With only once-a-week feedings, the standard-size bottle of food will last a very long time.
As you will find out, sea monkeys are some of the lowest-maintenance aquatic pets, which is perfect for those who do not have a lot of extra time to worry about the upkeep of pets.
Waste and What to Do with it
You might be wondering, do sea monkeys poop? Yes, they are living creatures that have digestive systems! A cool thing about their digestive system is that you can actually see it working since they are transparent.
Much as with regular shrimp, you will see a black line down the center of their body when they become full. This is the digestive tract, and it is the poop you are seeing inside of them.
Being able to tell when a sea monkey poops is easy because the digestive tract will appear clear again once they do. It is not recommended to clean the poop or algae that appears at the bottom of the tank because these natural elements are not harmful to your sea monkeys.
In case the tank gets littered with waste, you can use a turkey baster to carefully remove the sediment from the bottom of the tank once you notice that it is piling up and clouding the water.
Otherwise, you can just let the process happen naturally without any need to interrupt it. Your sea monkeys will eat, poop, and excrete waste that you usually do not have to worry about.
Most of the time, it will dissolve into the water or turn into algae that get eaten by the sea monkeys. This is why they are notorious for being very easy to care for.
The process can become a wonderful learning experience that is suitable for the entire family, and it is a great way to teach children how to take care of their own pets without having to worry about the difficulty that comes along with the task. They will get to see how living creatures function in a very natural way.
Watch and Learn
The best way to care for sea monkeys is simply to monitor them inside of the tank. They will take care of the rest while nature does its own work. Without having to commit to a rigorous cleaning of the tank and daily feeding, sea monkeys truly are low-maintenance pets that are suitable for almost anyone.
If you are ever unsure about what to do, there are plenty of resources you can seek out online that will help. You can also consult the professionals at any local pet store if you have any additional questions.
Sea monkeys that are healthy will appear active and lively. They almost look as if they are dancing because they swim around very quickly.
A cause of concern is indicated by immobilized sea monkeys. This usually means that the tank is too cold, but there is no need to purchase a heating lamp or any other accessory.
You can simply move them into a warmer room and watch them thrive again. A place with indirect sunlight at around 72 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for your sea monkeys to be healthy.
Enjoy the process, and make sure to take a look at your sea monkeys every single day, even if you are not feeding them on that day. The way you care for them is by watching them to make sure they are doing well in their own natural process.
It is a fun and easy experience that you can incorporate the whole family into, or a way for you as an individual to have company in the form of pets that require very little in return.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and over 10 years of experience working in IT. I have a wife and two children and love taking them to the zoo to see all the animals. I grew up with dogs and fish and now have two dogs and two cats. I’ve also played guitar for almost 20 years and love writing music, although it’s hard to find the time these days.