The sea monkey is among the most unusual and fascinating creatures that have captivated people across the globe. It is often sold as a way of bringing something to life in miniature aquariums without it being too simple and boring. But how long do sea monkeys live? When it comes to their lifespan, it seems pretty simple. However, care, environment, and even genetic predisposition can alter this in the real world. For further details on how to best maintain your sea monkeys for as long as possible, let us discuss further in our article.
What Are Sea Monkeys?
Before we look upon how long do sea monkeys live or the life cycle of sea monkeys, there must first be a definition. Sea monkeys are a variation of one of the brine shrimp and hybrid Artemia NYOS. Harold von Braunhut discovered these creatures in the 1950s. He soon discovered that their eggs crustaceans would term cysts- could easily be hatched when in the encapsulation stage. Though usually a novelty pet, it’s a rather biologically interesting creature.
Sea monkeys can survive for several long durations without water as they undergo cryptobiosis. This is where their cysts survive under extreme conditions, but once they come across water, they burst open into life in a few hours. That is one of the reasons that make sea monkeys unique and not so complicated to raise.
How Long Do Sea Monkeys Live? Average Lifespan of Sea Monkeys
A typical sea monkey may live for a time about one to two years. Well, that is, at best, so be considered in which case one does not live longer. Many circumstances would intervene as to what one’s real lifespan might turn out to be. It can sometimes be a few months for others who might well far exceed that length.
So how long do sea monkeys live? Remember that a captive-raised sea monkey lives much shorter than the wild one. That is, the latter has much more control over the survival of the sea monkeys because, for the wild ones, the real environment doesn’t constrain the quality of water, the quality of food, and the size of the tank.
Things That Affect the Lifespan of Sea Monkeys
Sea monkeys depend on many factors regarding their lifespan. Let’s break those down so that you understand how long do sea monkeys live and how you can create an environment to suit their lifespans.
1. Water Quality
The first and most crucial factor affecting the lifespan of sea monkeys is the quality of water. Poorly conditioned water can be stressful, diseased, and even fatal.
Use Distilled or Purified Water: Tap water has chlorine and other dangerous chemicals for sea monkeys. Purified or distilled water eliminates these risks.
Maintain Correct Salinity: Sea monkeys require the right salinity in the water in which they live to stay alive. Achieve this by following the package instructions for proper salinity content in your sea monkey kit.
Regular Cleaning: The debris and leftovers in the tank have to be taken out. This way, no harmful bacteria or toxicants are kept alive in the water.
2. Temperature
Sea monkeys also survive based on temperature. For example, they develop well between 72°F and 80°F (22°C to 27°C).
If the water temperature drops very low, then the metabolic rate gets reduced. At that time it can be toxic to them. This also lowers the water’s oxygen levels and stresses up the sea monkeys, assuming that the water might be too warm.
It should be placed in a warm spot but not in direct sunlight. It won’t be exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations, and it can use a small aquarium heater or heating pad if it requires stable temperatures.
3. Food and Nutrition
Feed your sea monkeys with a proper diet. Its major consumption of food is microalgae and sea monkey food, which is available with the kit of sea monkey.
Feed Only Sparingly: Overfeeding means that water quality may be affected since decomposition from uneaten food creates unpleasant substances. So feed your sea monkeys only with a small amount once every 5 to 7 days.
Use Good Quality Food: Use only those brine shrimp foods containing products especially formulated to supply your brine shrimp with all the nutrients required by them.
4. Oxygen Levels
Sea monkeys require oxygen to live and even a low level of oxygen in the air will make their lifespan of them low. Let the water be aerated either through slow and slight stirring in water or a miniature air pump. Aeration is an increase of oxygen within the water and even assures that it won’t stagnate.
5. Tank Size and Environment
Even though they are small, sea monkeys require large tanks to swim and increase in size. A bigger tank provides better water circulation and chances to have fewer fights for inadequate availability of resources. The kits which they come in are much smaller than the tanks. They upgrade their regular standard living conditions when kits are exchanged for bigger aquariums.
Sea Monkey Life Cycle
Illustrating the life cycle of sea monkeys will therefore enlighten one about the expectations regarding the growth cycle. It could be done in stages:
Egg Stage (Cysts): Sea monkeys come as cysts. These are relatively tough and can be kept inactive for quite some time. Once the correct water condition is provided to induce the growth process, cysts break out within 24 to 48 hours.
Nauplius Srage: At this stage, the nauplius is introduced after hatching. At this nauplius stage, they are very small and almost colourless. They grow so fast and begin to feed either on microalgae or the food added.
Juvenile stage: As sea monkeys age, their body and appendages begin growing. Activity picks up in this stage, and they feed much as they prepare themselves to become adults.
Adult: Adult sea monkeys are, in fact, well-developed in adult, reproductive condition, whereas characteristics for differentiation are like men with some developed big-sized antennae of great assistance during time mating and holding women.
Reproductive cycle: Sexual reproduction is a natural process among every animal species but the female sea monkey lays eggs that she stores in her pouch called brood sac in parthenogenic types. Quite many species offer eggs alive in births or disentails as the resting cyst where embryos hatch subsequently inside.
Things for Which You Would Love to Extend Sea Monkey Longevity
Here is a list of things you need to tick in order to extend the longevity of your Sea Monkey:
- Follow Instructions Carefully: Use the materials and guidelines coming with your sea monkey kit.
- Check on the Salinity, pH, and cleanliness of the water.
- Feed Them Appropriately: Overfeeding is not good for their environment.
- Place the tank in a location that will maintain a constant temperature with minimal disturbances.
- Aerate them adequately: Water must be well-oxygenated to help support their metabolic needs.
- Keep watching your sea monkeys for signs of illness or stress. Early action can prevent further problems.
Common Misconceptions
Misconception1: “Sea Monkeys Are Immortal”
Some of the ads portray them as living eternally or that they can be brought back to life an unlimited number of times. Their cysts can indeed survive extreme conditions, but once a sea monkey does hatch and starts its life cycle, it, like everything else, has a limited lifespan.
Misconception 2: “They Don’t Need Maintenance“
The pet sea monkeys are not demanding, but proper care needs to be given so that their health is well maintained. If their fundamental needs were ignored, it surely would shorten their lifespan.
Death of Sea Monkeys
You would feel sad or disappointed because your sea monkeys had reached the end of their life cycle. However, if you still want to maintain the colony, collect the eggs in the tank, and begin a new generation. Add some fresh water, and they will certainly bring curiosity and happiness into your life since they are well taken care of.
Conclusion
Sea monkeys are microscopic, therefore they look so simple and plain. But in all truth, they are living a really elaborate and pretty interesting life. It is an act of providing sea monkeys with their long life that you understand just how you could take them good care and a healthy environment to keep them about. You could like the exciting experiment or a little water creature; anyway, you can be sure that this is how weird it could get learning biology and just how tough life may become in the tiniest shape. With this, your question on how long do sea monkeys live is provided with a solution. Have a beautiful experience with these cute creatures.