Monkeys on the Bottom of The Tank

On Monday I noticed that my tank of Sea-Monkeys looked empty of Sea-Monkeys. On closer inspection I spotted my pets at the bottom of the tank. They were all furiously swimming downward, not a single one of them swimming about.

They looked healthy and active. The water was clear. I oxygenated, moved them to better light, and always they went right back to the bottom. I wrote George Atamian at Sea Monkey central and after asking if today was feeding day, it was, he gave it his best guess:

"I think what happened is that the more insoluble & denser food components head straight for the bottom, while other components either float on top or dissolve.

The particles that went to the bottom gradually break up and that is what the little folks are grubbing for on the bottom.

Watch for this the next time that you feed them, OK?"

Yesterday, Wednesday, was feeding day again and George was right. While the reaction was less extreme this time, the Sea-Monkeys did mostly gather at the bottom of the tanks. Mystery solved. Thanks George.

Sea Monkey Diary: A Well Balanced Diet

Here my tank sits on my desk at work, ready to have a bit of water added. In front of it you can see the products that I've used so far (after packets one and two of course) .

On day five I fed my newest batch of Monkeys with Packet #3, good old "Sea-Monkey Growth Food." It doesn't smell yummy to me but this powdered green algae seems to do the monkeys just fine.

Two days later things got exciting! I used some Red-Magic Sea-Monkey Vitamins. Can't ya feel the excitement? The envelope boasts a combination of Vitamins A-B1-B6-B12 and C. Oddly enough, nowhere on the packet does it mention that it will turn your Sea-Monkeys red, but this promise is made on the website and in the handbook. The packet does encourage the use of another product: "Now, with all that extra health, put them in the mood for love and breeding with 'Cupids Arrow' It can turn a Sea-Monkey aquarium into a regular "love boat"!
We'll soon find out.

On day nine I fed the gang some Gro-Kwikly Sea-Monkey Growth Stimulator. My guys may not be professional athletes but that doesn't mean they don't deserve steroids. Maybe someday when I have more time I'll run two tanks, one with and one without the Growth Stimulator.

Day Ten, the Sea Monkeys get Plasma III. This product sometimes labeled as "Packet 4" claims to be "...formulated so that 50% more young Sea Monkeys will grow and thrive in any 'Ocean-Zoo' aquarium." Again, would love to try two tanks. I think I'll hit the Sea Monkey folks up for more information about Plasma III. For now though, I added three scoops (using the big end of the feeding spoon) and will add another scoop every two weeks.

All that I have left is Banana Treat and Cupid's Arrow. Check back to see how I fare with these. I do not have Sea Medic, for sick Sea Monkeys, but will try to get some.

Sea Monkey Diary

I've started a new batch of Monkeys at work. This time I have just about every packet you can buy; Packets 1, 2 and 3 as well as Red-Magic Sea-Monkey Vitamins, Gro-Quickly Growth Stimulator, Banana Treat, Plasma III, (which used to be Packet 4) and Cupid's Arrow Sea-Monkey Mating Powder (yes, you read that right) so this should be the best batch ever and I'll have plenty to blog about.

I started today with Packet 1, Water Purifier. I skipped the 24 hour waiting period. (Consider this a BIG spoiler alert) After reading the official patent for Sea Monkeys I realized that the wait is part of the "magic" trick. Now, I love a good magic trick SO if I'm hatchin' a batch with kids I'll wait the 24 hours, but for now, I gave the water purifier a few minutes and then dumped in packet two. It's still a bit cold here so we didn't actually see any little white dots twirling about until about 48 hours later.

I'm aerating the tank every day and my little white dots are growing. I'll feed them for the first time on Monday March 10th.

Monday Update, alls well

My guys are doing GREAT. Fed the taller tank this morning. It's chock full of big sea monkeys.
In the morning, when I first get to work they swim around upside down on the floor of the tank. I'll hit up my panel of experts to find out just what that is all about. None of them are growing antlers yet so it'll be a bit before I have breeders. The baby tank is doing alright. I'm holding back on feeding and the water is clearing up. I'll probably feed a tiny bit tomorrow.
Check back soon for some really great macro-photographs from my friend Kiny.

A Brand New Home

Click image to enlarge
So here you see my nursery, it's full of happy Sea Monkeys. Well, maybe slightly overweight Sea Monkeys. I have over fed a bit, or so it would seem from the green water. But look at the nice clear water in the new tank, the taller blue one.

I added packet one to the bigger tank yesterday and having waited 24 hours, I just now moved a few of my larger Monkeys into their new, more spacious home. Using the purple aqua-leash I moved five of them over and if they seem healthy and happy on Monday, I'll move more over.

Notice the two blue folded pieces of paper on top of the nursery. This is to allow air flow while keeping dust from settling in the tank. I work in a dusty place.

Notice the grey speaker wire. the speaker is just to the right of the tanks. The Sea Monkeys enjoy Motorhead, Queen, The Shins and The Talking Heads. Not so crazy about 311, or so I tell the dude in my office who always tries to get me to play them.

Packet 3, Feeding Time

It being day five, I did feed my office pets today. I used a piece of advice I found at sea-monkey.com, but I notice I can no longer find this advice there? Anyway, I used the small end of the feeding spoon, put the food in clean separate container and then mixed it thoroughly with water from the tank. I also could've used some bottled water thus replacing evaporated water and killing two birds with one stone. I save sea monkeys, but I kill bird. Heh? As I was saying before I so rudely interrupted myself, I mixed the food and the water thoroughly and then dumped the water back in, which also added oxygen, one more bird dead.

Survived the long weekend

I was worried about my Sea Monkeys as I wasn't able to get into the office to pump air into their tank for three days. I rode my bike to the office on Saturday but I just missed the one guy with keys. Sunday, Monday, no luck.

This Sea Moneky Nursery really does make a big difference. When I got into work today I was most pleased to discover I still have TONS of little guys swimming around, more than I had on Friday. This is the most I've ever had hatch and they seem to be staying alive.

I pumped their tank full of air and now they're doing their loops and trips up to the surface, much bigger than they were on Friday. I tried to get a picture but it's pointless. You really couldn't make 'em out. The next batch I do I'll capture a small video clip every day for the ultimate Sea Monkey journal.

WOW

I must pronounce the Sea Monkey Nursery a big success.
I am back at work and I can't even count how many little monkeys are swimming around now. They're everywhere. I'd say close to three dozen of 'em at least. Very cool. I'll try to snap a photo when the light in here is better.

And so it starts (again)

Spring is in the air, so Sea Monkey's are on my desk.

I decided to test out my Sea Monkey Nursery. I like that it's wider and shallower for better gas exchange, but I don't care for the lids with the holes on top as they allow more dust in than the original tank's side holes.

I added the water purifier, packet one, yesterday, waited my 24 hours, and at 9:30 this morning I added packet 2, "Instant Life."

It probably was instant, but it was about 90 minutes later that I first saw little dots swimming about. No matter how many times I've done this its always a thrill to see the little guys for the first time as they spiral and twirl around the tank. An hour later they were spreading out rather than huddling in the corners. I'm guessing I have about a half dozen to a dozen in there now.

I just turned the thermostat in our office up to 72 degrees. It'll be a constant battle with the secretaries who like to keep it around 68. Luckily I sit closer to it than they do. (Wow, I really am a geek aren't I?!)

At 2:15 I noticed three guys swimming all the way to the surface of the tank.

I should have more sea monkeys swimming around tomorrow. Check back then.