How to Care for Sea Monkeys

Sea monkeys are great first pets for young children. They're easy to take care of and can give children an idea of the responsibility it takes to raise a pet. Have your child help you prepare the tank and explain to him what you're doing. This will make it more rewarding when he sees the sea monkeys swimming around.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sea monkey kit (sold in stores nationwide)
• Water
• Indirect sunlight

How to Care for Sea Monkeys

1. Rinse out the sea monkey tank with hot water a few times when you first open the package.

2. Fill the tank with bottled water or tap water that has been boiled. Add the water purifier pouch, or pouch #1, into the tank and stir for one minute or until the powder is completely disolved. Let the tank stand for 24 hours in room temperature.

3. Pour the 'Sea Monkey Instant Live Eggs' pouch, or pouch #2, into the tank of water and gently stir for one minute or until the powder has dissolved. Place the lid on the top of the tank to keep water from evaporating. It can take up to 24 hours for the eggs to hatch or before you're able to see sea monkeys swimming around using the magnifying glass built into the sides of the tank.

4. Place the tank in a sunny room but keep the tank out of direct sunlight.

5. Wait five days before feeding your sea monkeys with the third pouch, which is the sea monkey food. Continue to feed your sea monkeys once every week.

6. Add boiled water that has been sitting for 24 hours into the sea monkey tank when the water starts to evaporate.

7. Aerate the sea monkey water every other day. To do this, you need to use a big enough bottle to hold the sea monkey water and pour the water back and forth between the bottle and tank around five times every 24 hours. However, to avoid spills you might want to consider buying a small air pump.

8. Enjoy watching your sea monkeys swim and grow. You can clean any algae off the side of the tank with a Q-tip if it obstructs your view, but the sea monkeys will snack on this on their own.

9. Buy additional food when your supply is getting low. The kit will usually come with a guide on how you can request more sea monkey food.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your sea monkey tank on a stable surface to prevent spilling.
• If your eggs don't hatch within 24 hours the water may be too cold.
• Do not use soap to clean out your sea monkey tank, only water.

[gpcs]

on 3/4/2009 If you want to save $15-$20, buy them as live brine shrimp i.e. fish food at a tropical fish store. BTW, they doen't wear crowns and sit in little chairs.-George