What are sea monkeys

A.� Well, as you've probably guessed, they're not really monkeys, nor do they normally live in the sea. Sea monkeys are actually crustaceans, called brine shrimp that live in salt lakes, like the one in Utah, USA. These salty lakes are so salty that they can't support any life other than brine shrimps and some algae, which the shrimp eat.

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If you want to read about another salty body of water, The Dead Sea, click here.

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Q.� If they're animals, how come they come in packets

A.� The packets that you can buy actually contain the brine shrimps eggs. The brine shrimp lays its eggs in dormant cysts that remain that way while ever the cyst is dry.

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Q.� And water brings them to life

A.� Yes, or rather it resumes the brine shrimps life cycle. Adding brine shrimps to water kick-starts everything, and they hatch very quickly, reaching maturity in a week or so.

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Q.� Can I put them in any old water

A.� No, ideally the water should be purified and at around 25 degrees centigrade. They also need light and oxygen.

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Q.� What should I keep my sea monkeys in

A.� You can keep them in a normal fish tank, or a 2-litre fizzy drink bottle with the top cut off works just as well.

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Q.� What should I feed them

A.� Although brine shrimps are not the world's greatest eaters they do need feeding. An ideal food is yeast, but they only need a few drops of yeast solution.

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But make sure you don't feed before they're 5 days old, as they're born with a food supply, and that you don't wait any longer than 7 days to feed them.

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Q.� How often should I feed them

A.� Around about once a week should be fine. Keep an eye on your sea monkey's water; if it starts to become cloudy then you're over feeding them.

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Q.� How long can they be kept for before bringing them back to life

A.� For years and years as long as they remain dry.

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Q.� How big are they

A.� They can quite big, up to 20 mm in length if you look after them.

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Have you got a question about the natural world Click here to ask.

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by Lisa Cardy