There is a large range of kits available based around this theme and no doubt you will have heard of some of them; Aqua Dragons, Sea Monkies and Triops.
Are these creatures all different? Well yes and no.
They are in fact all a type of shrimp, however, the species used in these various kits vary a bit:
Aqua Dragons
Their scientific name is Artemia Salina and are crustacea [so they belong to the same family as shrimps and crabs]. This is a brine shrimp or sometimes called a sea shrimp as it lives in salty water.
You can read more and see my full Aqua Dragons review here.
Sea Monkies
Their scientific name is Artemia NYOS and are also crustacea. This is also a brine shrimp or sometimes called a sea shrimp as it lives in salty water.
Triops
The scientific name is Triops Longicaudatus and is crustacea. These are often referred to as long-tailed, shield or tadpole shrimps and are freshwater shrimp.
So basically, they are all shrimps. That’s not a negative comment, by the way, just a statement of fact. The amazing thing all these shrimps have in common is their ability to survive in the real world. They have the capability of coming to life after remaining apparently ‘dead’ for years, even a decade or two!
It’s something they’ve developed over millions of years so they can survive in desert situations for example. They will remain ‘lifeless’ at the bottom of a dried-up small pool in the desert for years, then when it rains, they instantly come to life and start a fast life cycle.
That’s why all these kits say the creatures will start to hatch within 24 hours – it’s built-in nature!
It’s also why they grow so fast. Most of these shrimps will double in size every day initially. In the wild, they need to grow fast and produce a new set of eggs before the pool dries up again!
It’s a fascinating insight into an unusual creature which makes these kits much more interesting. Click on any of the links above to read more.
