Sea Monkeys.

When I say the word "Sea Monkeys," one of two things pops into your head: "The C-Monkey" or that comic ad that appeared in magazines up until at least the mid-90s or so - maybe later than that.

I had sea monkeys. I don't know where I got them - maybe Toys R Us or something, but I thought, "eh, why not." I think I was a pre-teen when I got them, and when they "hatched," it looked like particles floating in the water until they got "larger" - you know, where you could see them if you squinted instead of not being able to see them at all.

1. What ARE sea monkeys?
Well they're neither mammals (monkeys) nor are they found in the sea. Sea monkeys are a hybrid of brine shrimp - bred to be a hybrid to be larger and to be marketed as "pets." In the "wild," they are found in saltwater lakes...not the ocean or seas.

2. How are Sea Monkeys able to be kept unhatched in a pouch and then, remarkably, hatch in tap water? Aren't they alive?
Yes, they are alive, however, when prepared, they enter a stage of cryptobiosis, or "suspended animation" (pretty cool, isn't it?) Anyone that has had Sea Monkeys knows you have to add a solution into your tap water for the sea monkeys. This creates kind of a saltwater aquarium type of setting, allowing the shrimp to hatch.

3. Can they actually do tricks and be taught to do things?
I highly doubt it. Let's consider the intelligence level of a brine shrimp and the brine shrimp's purpose on this planet. The only real purpose of brine shrimp is to act as fish food (sold through pet stores, etc.). That's it. Their minute size doesn't scream "brainpower" to me, and if any "tricks" are done, then it is by sole accident. The company responsible for Sea Monkeys (Transcience) claims you can get them to do tricks with a laser pointer. Yes, I believe if I was the size of a fingernail clipping and someone blasted me with a laser the size of my body, I, too, might move oddly, hence...doing a trick.

Transcience is the company who makes sea monkeys ( www.sea-monkeys.com) though you won't be able to buy sea monkeys online with a credit card. This company stays true to its original design - mail order or buy at a store only.