What are Sea Monkeys?

 

If you’ve clicked this page, you’re probably wondering why there is a small tank of water on my desk and why I’m so excited about it. Here is the lowdown on our new aquatic roommates.

Despite the name and the crown-wearing illustrations from the back of 1970s comic books, Sea Monkeys are actually a specific hybrid breed of Brine Shrimp (Artemia NYOS).

They were developed in 1957 by American inventor Harold von Braunhut, famous for developing mail order products to be marketed to children via comic books.  He wanted a pet that could survive in a state of cryptobiosis – essentially a deep biological sleep where they look like dust but “come to life” the moment they hit conditioned saltwater.

 

 

Some fun facts about Sea Monkeys:

  • The eggs can sit in a dry packet for years and still hatch when added to water.
  • They don’t have gills like fish; they actually breathe through their feathery legs as they swim.
  • They are phototactic, meaning if I shine a flashlight on the tank, they will follow it like a tiny, underwater parade.
  • They start as microscopic nauplii (Larvae) and can grow to about 15mm–20mm long in just a few weeks.

 

Monkey Blog

 

This project began after my most recent birthday when a couple of friends handed me a box labeled “The Original Sea-Monkeys: Ocean-Zoo.” from Ban Dai (TM) Their reasoning was that I needed a pet that lived somewhere in the biological grey area ‘between a terrarium and a dog’. Something that had a central nervous system but no desire to play fetch or go for a walk. Thus I am now the proud guardian of a colony of Artemia NYOS, embarking on what will no doubt be an amazing and wonderous journey into the world of shrimp parenthood.

The goal of this blog is to track their lifecycle from their first day in the water to the day we (hopefully) see a thriving colony of sea monkeys. I’ll be posting regular updates on their growth, water quality, and any dramatic developments in the tank. Feel free to leave a comment on my latest post if you have questions or just want to say hi to the shrimp!

 

 

Disclaimer

 

 

This blog is a personal, not-for-profit project intended for educational and hobbyist tracking purposes only. Artemia Park is not affiliated with, authorized, maintained, sponsored, or endorsed by Bandai, Transcience Corp, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries. All product and company names are the registered trademarks of their original owners. The use of any trade name or trademark is for identification and reference purposes only and does not imply any association with the trademark holder of their product brand.