The term sea monkey commonly refers to Artemia salina, a saltwater shrimp belonging to the crustacean family, whose eggs are sold online together with the materials necessary for their hatching. Given that giving the wrong amount of food can kill the entire colony in a relatively short time, it is important to learn how to set the correct diet, as well as to control the symptoms of malnutrition or overeating.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Feeding the Sea Monkeys Purchased with a Kit
Step 1. Do not feed the sea monkeys the first few days after hatching
These shrimps begin their life by continuing to feed on the nutrients present in the egg sac. Check the eggs daily to see if they have begun to hatch. Once this process has begun, wait five days before starting to feed them.
- Newborn sea monkeys can be extremely small. Move the aquarium to a well-lit area and observe the water closely to see the tiny, pale dots in motion. Use a magnifying glass if necessary.
- If the eggs don't hatch within 48 hours, move the container to an area with plenty of light. However, avoid placing it in direct sunlight, as this could cause it to overheat.
Step 2. Feed the shrimp a small amount of growth factor food
Use the smaller end of the measuring spoon included in the kit to collect the food and transfer it to the aquarium. If you can't find a specific spoon to measure out your food, try a clean plastic straw that acts as a scoop. As a general rule, it is always better to give little food instead of overdoing the quantities.
Step 3. Repeat the nutrient administration once every 5-7 days
The packages have different instructions about the amount of food to be given to the sea monkeys, but most of these crustaceans kept in aquariums thrive when the food is given at intervals of 5-7 days. Increase the frequency or quantity only if the shrimp population grows much more than expected by the instructions on the package and if there are no traces of food residues on the bottom of the aquarium.
Step 4. Do not add any more food if the water becomes cloudy
If you see that their environment appears dirty and the water is no longer clear, stop feeding your crustaceans. Wait until the water becomes transparent as before. This opacity of the water, in general, is due to the presence of too many algae, bacteria or other organisms that could suffocate the sea monkeys if they were to continue to proliferate.
Step 5. Check if your little crustaceans have a dark stripe, which is a sign of health
The digestive tract of saline Artemia becomes dark when full. If you see this dark line running through the body of the sea monkeys, it probably means that they are eating well. However, if you don't see it, consider feeding them more often, but only as described below.
Step 6. Increase food with caution
If you have acquired other sea monkeys, or if the population is growing, you may need to increase the amount of food or how often you feed them. Make changes slowly, to avoid killing the crustacean population due to overfeeding. Reduce the interval between feedings by one day at a time, but return to the original feeding program if the water becomes cloudy, if the animals begin to move slowly or if they lose interest in food. Alternatively, keep the same frequency, but increase the quantity each time you add nutrients to the aquarium.
Method 2 of 2: Using Supplements
Step 1. To encourage the development of crustaceans, occasionally replace food containing a normal growth factor with foods with a high growth factor
However, be sure not to administer the latter too often; once every 2 or 3 supplies of the usual food is sufficient. This should stimulate the sea monkeys to grow larger and faster.
Step 2. For even more growth, also provide them with energizing nutrients once a week
You can add the amount equivalent to a small scoop to the aquarium no more than once a week in addition to ordinary food. This should result in faster growth, even though manufacturers often do not clearly explain the differences between a high growth factor food and energizing food.
Step 3. Use food supplemented with food coloring instead of regular food to make the shellfish turn red
This type of product should also contain vitamins that make sea monkeys healthier and more energetic. The most noticeable effect, however, is the pink or red color that the fish develop. You may need to feed them this food on multiple occasions before they notice the color change.
Step 4. Occasionally give them banana food instead of ordinary (optional)
You can find it pre-packaged in pet stores. The label on the product often indicates that it is a food rich in added nutrients, therefore it is not as harmful as some "treats" suitable for humans could be. However, it seems that the product is intended solely as an occasional delicacy, to give your shrimp a little sparkle and liveliness. If you notice that they're not particularly excited about this product, it probably doesn't make any sense to give it to them.
Step 5. Use a water disinfectant if bacteria start growing in the aquarium
Note that this is not a food substitute. If you see white balls floating in the fish tank, you need to fight this bacterial infection by adding a specific disinfectant every day using the smaller end of the measuring spoon, until all traces of residue have disappeared.
