A: You can
obtain many ideas from the Sea-Monkey® handbook included in some kits. If your kit
doesnt came with the handbook, you can get it by writing to Transcience. It costs $2
(+ .75 cents shipping). For more info about the item number and Transcience's
address, please visit The Sea-Monkey® Page.
Most of these project requires adult Sea-Monkeys® so keep in mind that you need several
weeks for preparation. One kit is usually enough but to be on the safe side, get at
least two sets of Sea-Monkey packets. For a late start, I recommend to follow the
second and/or fourth suggestion in this list.
- My favorite theme is; the balanced eco-system. Set aside a Sea-Monkey
Micro-View tank or other container, with used Sea-Monkey formula (without Sea-Monkeys) in
semi-direct sunlight (avoid overexposure to heat) for several weeks until natural algae
develops. It is possible that you might need some help by using a very small portion
of algae-promotion products if you want to accellerate the process. When the water
start to turn green or with visible algae deposits in the bottom, I suggest you to
transfer only up to 4 pairs of Sea-Monkeys (male and female) or some newborn babies from a
pregnant female is better. Use only less than a dozen of Sea-Monkeys. In this
ecosystem, you'll never have to feed them again! (long days without sunlight,
maybe because of a rainy week, may cause algae loss, so be prepared with a plant light to
help you on these days.) You can buy algae online from my friend Paul Sachs.
Search for his address on my link page.
- The act of making a dried-out Sea-Monkey eggs to hatch is a good theme by itself.
You can make a project about the diapause or cryptobiosis process and make a real-time
demonstration of the hatching process. Make sure that 24-30 hours before the
demonstration, you prepare the water using Water Purifier (packet#1).
- The "Meiotic Parthenogenesis" process of the females is a good theme
to discuss. The biological marvel that allows the females to fertilize
themselves without a male. This project is best developed if you spot several
young females from your tank and set them aside in another container and take note about
the progress. Give them "Gro-Kwikly" weekly to accellerate the process.
You should pay special attention to their egg-sacs and the development of brown
"dots" (these are the eggs). After several days you should see either live
babies or floating eggs.
- The phototactic, or "responsive to lightwaves" behaviour of
Sea-Monkeys® can be easily demostrated if you want this as your project theme. Be
sure to carefully cover the tank with a dark cloth (and more careful when you remove it!)
at least one hour before the demostration (in case you cant turn off all the lights).
Demostrate the Sea-Monkey tendency to 'look' at the light, no matter where
it comes from (maybe by turning the tank to the other side). Sea-Monkey babies are
the most sensitive as you can see them crowding together in their attempt to
"reach" the light. If you happen to have only adults Sea-Monkeys®, I
suggest you place them in a container with a clear bottom, so you can put a light below
the tank and make them swim upside down.
- Another 'easy-to-demostrate' in a science fair is the strange behaviour of some animals,
like the salmon, trout or Sea-Monkeys® to always swim against the current.
Because water currents and pressure can be controlled by man, you can have
both a good grade and fun in your science fair by obtaining a Sea-Monkey® Racing Game
aqua-track and give a "live performance" of your pets.
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