Sea-Monkey business

When my sisters were kids, I purchased one of them a Sea-Monkeys kit and distinctly remember being unimpressed with the results. I didn't expect the bustling kingdom depicted in the funny books, but the number of brine shrimp that hatched and the size they grew to was lame. I wrote the toy off as a popular illusion.

In the years since, I've heard a number of acquaintances reminisce fondly about their experiences with S-Ms and wondered whether my siblings and I made any crucial errors. Receiving "The Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys On The Moon Mini-World" for Christmas (thanks, R. and K.) offered me the opportunity to find out...

It's day six in my S-M (not S&M) cycle and things look better than I remember, with loads of shrimp swimming above the day-glo lunarscape. They've gained a lot in size, too. I've made a habit of aerating their water* when I get home each evening - something I don't recall us doing way back when. Maybe that was the problem.

As much as I'm enjoying looking after the tiny critters and seeing them thrive, I'm already worrying what I'll do when their packet of food runs out or there are too many for the Moon Mini-World to support. I could pour them down the drain but then they might grow into giant, man-eating Sea-Monkeys and terrorise Sydney!

On a related note, it occurs to me that fans of S-Ms would likely enjoy the sci-fi short stories "Sandkings" by George RR Martin (not hard to find, just don't watch the "Outer Limits" adaptation first) and "Model Train Set" by Jonathan Blum (from "Doctor Who: Short Trips"), both of which involve the managing of microcosms.


*Using the simple method, suggested in the instructions, of emptying it back and forth between the tank and a sterile container four-five times. It's a tad tedious and some liquid is lost. I'm wondering whether gently blowing into the water with a clean straw might have the same effect. Where did I put that shopping list?