If you have found yourself undertaking the exciting endeavor of raising your own sea monkeys, you likely have some questions and perhaps concerns regarding your tiny new pets.
This article will delve into many of the details regarding what sea monkeys are, how to properly care for them, and it will also address the issue of sea monkey eggs floating on top of the water.
Keep reading to find the answers to your sea monkey-specific questions.
What Are Sea Monkeys?
Sea monkeys are a hybrid species of brine shrimp that were created by a man named Harold von Braunhut. They were designed to be big enough to view through a magnifying glass, be heartier than normal brine shrimp, and have an extended lifespan.
These odd creatures, which happen to breathe through their feet, were created specifically to market to children for entertainment, as well as a way to pique their interest in biology.
Sea Monkey Eggs
When you purchase your sea monkey pets, they come as dried up eggs that you need to place into a designated plastic container filled with water, in which they will hatch about five days later. However, you must first prepare the tank by getting the water sufficiently warm and aerating it, which is explained below.
Warming the Environment
Before you pour your sea monkey eggs into their new home, you need to first warm up the two liters of water in the container so they can be comfortable and have the best chance of hatching as healthy baby sea monkeys. Make sure that you use unchlorinated water for your tiny pets.
You can warm the water by placing the container in front of a window in your home that has a lot of direct sunlight coming through it for a day or two, or simply by letting it sit out at room temperature for a few days. The water should be around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally, so if you happen to have a thermometer, you can check to see if it is the perfect temperature.
Aerate the Water
Another thing you need to do prior to adding your sea monkey eggs to the water is add oxygen to it, as unborn and baby sea monkeys require a great deal of oxygen. You also need to do this a couple times a day for their whole lives.
You can aerate, or add oxygen to, the tank by either squeezing air into the water with a turkey baster or by using an air pump. A syringe will also get the job done.
Add Salt
Finally, you should stir in the salt from the packet that likely came with your sea monkey starter kit, and then let the water’s salinity levels get to where they need to be by sitting for 24 hours. After this, you can pour in your sea monkey eggs, which can take around five days to hatch.
Why Are Eggs Floating on Top of Water?
After you pour your sea monkey eggs into their tank, you might notice that some float around toward the top of the water, while others sink to the bottom, or perhaps you notice all of them floating on top of the water.
Fortunately, this is no reason to be concerned, and your sea monkeys should still hatch as healthy creatures.
Caring for Sea Monkeys
Sea monkeys are odd little brine shrimp hybrids that are born with only one eye, gaining two more later in life. As was previously mentioned, these animals were designed by their creator to be easy to keep alive.
This section will detail how you can give your sea monkeys the best life possible.
Feeding Your Pets
As with any living being, sea monkeys require sustenance to survive. You should have gotten some food specifically made for sea monkeys with your starter kit, but you can easily find more at pet stores or online after it runs out.
Your kit should have also come with a small spoon that you can use for measuring out your pets’ food. A good amount of food is typically a spoonful every five days or so, though you can actually tell if your sea monkeys need to be fed by looking at their translucent bodies.
Keep in mind that sea monkeys also eat algae, so once there is some of it growing in their container, they will likely need a little less food from you to stay properly nourished.
Adding Oxygen
You will need to keep your sea monkeys’ tank aerated for them to survive. To do this, as was already stated, you can utilize a turkey baster, air pump that is set to low, or syringe to introduce oxygen into the water once or twice each day.
Cleaning the Tank
Luckily, you should not need to clean your sea monkeys’ tank too often and should really only do so when the water appears cloudy or if it is stinky. Since algae is gladly eaten by your pets, it does not need to be removed from their container.
Having Fun
Believe it or not, you can actually play with your tiny pets by using a light beam. Sea monkeys will chase light, so you can use a flashlight and watch them eagerly swim toward its beam as you move it around their tank erratically.
No Other Creatures
One last thing to mention is that you should avoid putting your sea monkeys in a tank with other fishy creatures as your pets are brine shrimp, which are usually tasty snacks for fish. If you want your sea monkey friends to be around for a while, make sure that you keep them in their own home away from other animals.
Final Thoughts
You should now know how to properly take care of your sea monkeys after they have hatched, and you should also be aware that eggs floating on the top of the water are not a problem. After you have a thriving colony of sea monkeys in a few weeks, you will wonder how you ever lived without these delightful creatures.
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.