| A: This is not
"Last Month's FAQ" but I think it's necesary to answer, because I received this
question several times during the last 4 years of my Sea-Monkey® web page. Your
Sea-Monkeys® are alive, so a "death" is expected to happen at any time with any
animal. The longevity of any living thing depends on the quality of its environment
and nutrition, in the case of Sea-Monkeys® or any fish, they rely on the quality of their
water and feeding habits. There are so many factors that can cause a "sudden
death" to a Sea-Monkey® tank, only the "overfeeding" problem is the one we
can list for sure. Check your tank against this list to know if your Sea-Monkey®
are prone to trouble.
- If your tank is getting "cloudy", you're overfeeding them. Remember that
when we use the term "cloudy" it is *not* the same as "debris" or
"particles", it is common to see floating "things", many of these
particles and tiny "white balls" are their moulted shells. You can have a
"crystal clear" water, no matter the amount of debris in the tank, but a
"cloudy" water is one that seems to be "milky" and doesnt look
"clear" when you see thru the tank.
- Remember that because of their size, these tanks can get cold or hot very easily, and
that's why a constant temperature of no less than 70F/26C is recommended. Keep away
from extreme temperatures and from direct sunlight. (They enjoy indirect sunlight...
and they need it!)
- If you use an Aqua-Leash or "Million Bubble" air pump, remember to rinse with
bottled water those articles after using it, and wrap it in a papel towel or you may be
adding some bacteria to their water if you dont have proper care of the things you insert
to their formula.
- Keep the Sea-Monkey® food very well closed and, if it is possible, out of a humid
environment.
- Ask to other members of your family to let you know if they're spraying some kind of
insecticide or aroma near your Sea-Monkey® tank, you want to definitely move them to get
some fresh air.
Because Sea-Monkeys® are suppose to grow to adulthood in four weeks and live 2 years,
it is normal that everyone expect this same results. As with any other hybrid
species of animal, not *all* of the babies born will have this "hybrid"
qualities. "Normal" artemias usually takes longer and live shorter in
this exact environment, so it is very common to have these "normal" creatures in
every Sea-Monkey® kit.
It takes several weeks for your tank to balance the exact number of Sea-Monkeys® that
can finally live for a long time. Trying to "trick" nature by overfeeding
your pets, is a risk you dont want to take. Just keep the feedings to just once or
twice a week (if you have MANY adults) using the small measure of the feeding spoon and
dont worry about newborns, nature will select the ones that will reach maturity. |
