Fairy Shrimp – Brine Shrimp – Sea Monkeys

Posts Tagged ‘son’

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He is so excited about the whole sea monkey thing. We just put the eggs in the little tank, he wants to know how long it really takes and if other kids on here have them?
Thanks

My son wants Sea Monkeys (aka Brine Shrimp eggs). I am not sure how to hatch them (what temperature water, how much water & how much salt to mix together), and what to feed them once they hatch so he can keep them alive. He wants to have some as pets in a tank and the others we will use to feed fish (so we MUST keep these little guys alive). Anyone know how to hatch, feed Sea Monkeys / Brine Shrimp?
I have looked at various toy stores for the sea monkey kit but cannot find one. I was told by all that it is seasonal item only carried in December (for upcoming Crhistmas). Know where to get them year-round?

My son has really gotten into taking care of his 2 new bettas and I was thinking about getting him one of those “themed” brine shrimp kits. He really wants his own pets “to be in his room” but he is too rough for a furry (besides we already have 8). How easy are brine shrimp tanks to take care of? How long do they live (e.g. will I have to pick out dead ones often)? I figure they might make good snacks for the bettas occasionally as well.

Also, has anyone had success with one of these “themed” kits (this is just one example of many different “themes http://www.officeplayground.com/seamonkeys.html ) or should I go for the more “scientific” kit ( http://search.discover-this.com/?query=sea+monkeys&catalog=discoverthis&imageField.x=10&imageField.y=6 ) ?

Thanks!
Deborah
P.S. He’s 5 1/2 years old.
Oh yeah, I forgot to ask this too — do ones that hatch from the kit eggs reproduce well or am I going to have to restock all the time?
Let me rephrase – he is not so rough with the cats that he hurts them — he’s just so rough that they are wary of snuggling and playing with him. Sometimes they let him pet them, but other times not.

Alternatively, how about a Triops kit http://www.spacetoys.com/proddetail.php?prod=TSK36 or a frog kit http://www.butterfly-gifts.com/grow-a-frog-kit.html#Large?
All of your answers were great and they’ve given me a lot of food for thought. Here is what I’ve decided to do after talking to my son and considering your answers.

1) As soon as our new fish tanks come in (today, I hope. . .) we’re going to use the old tank to hatch brine shrimp, primarily as food for the bettas. This won’t replace their regular food or anything. Milo says it will “teach the fish to fetch” (LOL). I think it will be good for the fish to have a workout chasing their food, anyway. That much will be fun to watch. Each week, we’ll put in a few new eggs at feeding time. They sell the eggs by and prep solutions at the pet store, so it should be cheap and easy. If we lose interest, so be it — we just won’t add anymore eggs.
2) After summer starts, we’re going to get a triops kit for him. We’ll keep it going through summer. If he has fun with it, we’ll buy some more eggs after it dies. If not, we won’t. Anybody know if they make good tank-mates for bettas?
I ran out space. I’ll continue.

3) We’ll try the frog kit next summer, or if he’s ready by then, I’ll do it with his class this fall. I’m afraid he won’t handle a frog right so my big concern is leaving it in his room with him when I’m not looking. I just don’t know if he’s gentle enough. That defeats the point of this exercise right now.

Thanks again for all your help.

He got a a go cart last year.
He says he dosen’t know what he wants.
He likes the sea monkeys I got him last year.
I gave him a telescope one year, but he never uses it.
He is bored with his paintball and xbox.
He is at that age were toys aren’t that cool, but he dosen’t want clothes either.
He likes to hunt, but has everything for that.
Likes the NY Yankees–this is my only idea for a gift. I need more.

HELP!!

They were sold in a paper envelope and called sea monsters or dinosaur eggs, similar to sea monkeys. Where can I buy them or what is the proper name?