Aqua Dragons Hatch 'N' Grow Kit! | Unboxing & Review (NEW!)

An unboxing and review of the Aqua Draongs Hatch N Grow set.
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[@stevesminty]

My man dude, all of us overgrown adults deserve happiness.

[@Thanatos--]

Probably the only kit I've seen so far that you could try and make an argument for owning as an adult. Looks so tippy while looking pretty cool in the home décor shots.

[@kelseywall4988]

“which you better ******* do, because now they have your address” 😂

[@YuujiVermillion61]

And they have you on video😂

[@mainaccount5749]

Hehehhehehehehhehehehehehehhehe

[@KarinaMendoza-xk2zi]

I wonder why **** hee hee

[@TodMachin]

I like this tank design too, John. It’s clean and simple although, as you mentioned, it also looks like it would be prone to getting bumped or knocked over. Of course it reminds me of that all-clear Sea-Monkeys® Ocean-Zoo® anomaly we’ve discussed in the past. It always amazes me how many Sea-Monkey® knockoffs there are, what remains similar and what they change to be different. I think a USB light underneath this tank glowing upwards would look awesome as well. Agree with others, esthetically this tank looks more “adult” and more likely to fit in with most people’s decor.

[@pico-cosmos]

Ah you're right! It is very similar to that Ocean Zoo tank. I really wish that got an official release - perhaps with a spooky ghost theme or something. Might be something worth pitching to Rob 👀

[@luciaelhelwa8897]

You said Brian trump 😂

[@fengengao]

I'm glad to see the return of the unfiltered humor. I used to get a laugh out of you describing yourself as about the size of a sea monkey, so the censored swear and the "they have your address" had me laughing. Lovely kit, love the clean design.

[@pico-cosmos]

Lol dry humour is my favourite. Still gota try to keep things relatively family friendly 😆

[@robertkillingsworth7149]

Really liking the script for this one. It's more personable and sassy without being too meanspirited. This kit's pretty sweet.

[@draggy76]

Yeah, Now only if he had actually followed the instructions as they said and not deviated from them. This is a beginners/childrens starter kit, so he should have done as they would have follow them 100%....

[@robertkillingsworth7149]

@@draggy76 True, but I like how any video can be a jumping in point for if people impulsively buy some right after this. I remember just buying and killing a batch of sea monkeys when I was little juat cause I saw them at the store.

[@M50A1]

​@@draggy76you act like he doesn't know how to use these

[@ExtremeBirdTypography]

@@M50A1 Obviously John knows how to raise them, but that might make the review slightly less applicable? I think draggy's point was that, to get a "proper" review of the tank, it should be important to review the instructions (so kids/new people can trust the product's own instructions) The way John did it is probably ideal for the shrimp, but we don't know how useful/trustworthy the instructions are. If I was buying this tank for a child, the instructions would be very important. It would be nice to see how the shrimp fare when following the instructions exactly, as a kid would. Still, it's a good video and a nice tank.

[@pico-cosmos]

The reason I don’t usually follow the instructions is because I’d just end up with 50 videos of me killing brine shrimp over and over again 😅 I prefer to show people how to properly look after them using these kits

[@evefarrel]

Oh I love this set. It does need some sort of weight at the bottom to keep it sitting solid but I like how the algae growth makes the mountains all green and the lack of the magnifiers lets you see the shrimp so much better.

[@carrielange2692]

I've had mine in a 1 gallon mason jar for well over a year now, thanks to you. At this point, i don't need to do anything except top it off with fresh water about once a week. other than that, it's completely self sustaining. don't have to feed or add eggs, or clean. I did find out that adding a wonder shell to mine makes all the difference. when it's almost dissolved, i add another one. i have really soft water though. so just a tip for others with soft water.

[@pico-cosmos]

That’s awesome to hear! What’s a wonder shell? Does that add additional calcium?

[@Sifar333]

What is a wonder shell?

[@ittybittybeasties]

@@pico-cosmos Wondershell is a sort of mineral block that slowly dissolves to add minerals to the tank! I know I've seen them before but never bought them, but that's a brilliant idea.

[@elliotleawmoe5493]

First the Volcano Kit now this, This is so awesome!

[@pico-cosmos]

They’re both great tanks but I honestly think I prefer this one. Millennials love their minimalism 😆

[@artchic528]

I see you’re adding a bit of cheekiness to your content now. I approve.

[@TeresaMarable-sx3te]

😂😂😂

[@dizzydragon]

I like how minimalized and streamlined the kit is

[@pico-cosmos]

Me too! Even though this tank is super minimal it still has a completely different vibe to the other tanks I’ve tried. Big fan of this one!

[@loriki8766]

I enjoy these videos just bc you're always so excited about the brine shrimp and you have a good sense of humor!

[@Bombdawgy]

Would really enjoy watching you do a video on the Aqua Dragons Eggspedition Kit. That would be an a nice to add to the collection.

[@bongminx666]

wake up babe, there's a new picocosmos video!!

[@pico-cosmos]

😆

[@photobygil]

No molded magnifying lenses, this must be your favorite aquarium of all time! I personally love those little bubble themed additions. They give the tank instantly recognizable personality, although I prefer them on one side, not both. And I agree that this clean tank, with the clear base & no color accents at all, looks pretty classy. I used a similarly shaped floral vase, made of heavy crystal-like glass, for my sea-monkeys. I always wondered if the glass affected the temperature of the water in any way that the typical plastic doesn't. Another great video, thanks as always for your informative (& often hilarious) observations!

[@pico-cosmos]

Hahahaha yeah I love the lack of magnifying bubbles 😆 I think you’re right though about them giving the Sea-Monkey tanks some character. I have a bit of a nostalgic appreciation for them too, even if they do annoy the hell outa me at times lol. I think glass is a better insulator than plastic, so it’d probably help a little with temperature stability, but the difference is likely negligible

[@photobygil]

Thanks for the reply. I got it in my head that glass might be keeping water colder longer, or perhaps heating up faster than plastic, though I never looked into it seriously. You make a lot of logical points about the ideal tank. Before this channel, I never considered the benefits of a heating pad (or lamp), let alone a constant air-flow source. Someone at Sea-Monkey central should commission you to design a new line of advanced, aesthetically pleasing tanks for the adult enthusiast. I can only imagine how such an optimized, modern mini-aquarium would contribute to the longevity of any colony!@@pico-cosmos

[@BeckyA59]

I like this one a lot, the algae on the mountains looks better than most

[@richtheraichu1206]

Its nice to see these little guys around on the internet, in high schools as a class project we got to grow our own set of them.

[@kristyw89]

I can't wait for this to come to USA, I will 100% buy it!

[@IrinaGreenman]

Just started watching your channel, your reviews are great! This is definitely my favorite so far of the kits I've seen here. As far as instability goes, a dot or two of museum gel under the base would be my solution. It's removable, and it's crystal clear so it won't affect the look of your setup. And it's *strong*. It's my go-to for anything I need to prevent from tipping over, and a single small jar has lasted me literal years.

[@justafriendlycryptid]

Honestly seems like a good place to start and I feel with a little tinkering the weight issues can be at least kinda sorted.

[@BlackArroToons]

Nice clear tank, good video, thanks. Keeping and raising pets, even Sea-Monkeys/Aqua Dragons, is an all ages interest requiring attention to details, and regular care. Nice work!

[@pamelamarin1492]

I have a going colony of sea monkeys but aqua dragons are cool too. I would get them if I could!

[@pico-cosmos]

Oo which Sea-Monkey kit did you get??

[@pamelamarin1492]

I got the mars one it’s my favorite!

[@sierram9573]

I’ve been enjoying the little bit of extra spice in your videos lately 😂❤

[@Lillian2167]

That's actually a really nice tank, love how clear it is! Perfect for watching the lil brine shrimp. Now if we could get a broader base on it, it would be perfect! :3

[@pico-cosmos]

Yeah a broader base would be good, but might make it look funny?

[@lornacy]

You mentioned personalizing the tank ... Maybe something heavy in the "mountains" to lower the center of gravity?

[@pico-cosmos]

Yeah that could definitely help. Even putting some kind of resin in there

[@zoebowler5664]

I LOVE the look of this tank.

[@Finn_the_human94]

girlfriend just agreed to let me spend the extra money next time some is available and get the sea monkeys from mars one. I had never gotten into sea monkeys as a kid, but I'm happy to get into them now.

[@littleblobcreations]

Hello, I need some advice on my sea monkeys tank. About 3 of my females became pregnant and it was going really well but now none of them are pregnant. It's been 2 weeks ish and I can't see any babies at all. What's happened?

[@plagueofmoths]

I'd guess that they did give birth but the babies either died or got eaten shortly afterward

[@robyn6521]

I really like the look of this kit!

[@TheSaltyMits]

I was interested after seeing the volcano kit, but after seeing this one, it might be time for me to get into brine shrimp 😂

[@lornacy]

Every time I see one of your videos I want to get a kit!

[@goldentortoisebeetle]

I think if I get this one I would also try to weight the bottom. the very incident that you feared happened during childhood to my sister's tank after a curious cat was involved...

[@pico-cosmos]

I hear so many stories of pets and siblings knocking over tanks 🙃 some kind of weight would really be a good idea

[@datbadassunicorn2832]

Oooo a nice kit to grow food for my fish..

[@waterninten]

I does look like something I would like to try, but with such an easy to tip base I might have to pass. I tend to bump into stuff and my cat likes to run, so i wouldnt risk it.

[@rajgill7576]

Just get a brine shrimp hatchery for aquarium food and use your own more stable container! I watch these because I hatch thousands for my fish tanks live food and never grow them up, so it's cool to see

[@Signman1]

YOUR AWSOME! I think you should do more animals

[@cosmicmoonfrost]

Thanks for the video! This really is a nice little starter kit. I just bought some live algae which I am cultivating in a flask. I also added a few drops to my sea-monkeys tank which I’m sure they’ll enjoy eating! I am hoping the nice layer of sea-monkey poop, grow lights plus lovely warm, oxygenated water will help some nice live algae growth!

[@pico-cosmos]

Nice 👌 feeding them live algae is definitely the key to a healthy tank

[@marvelljones72]

I'd definitely be interested in getting this kit, it's quite beautiful for both children and adults. Plus like you mentioned, it has a good place for algae to cling to. I have the Live Astro Pets Deluxe set and the one complaint I have about the tank is there's nowhere but the sides and bottom for algae to grow. The tank's an orb that's designed to look like the moon set atop a glow in the dark base, so it's quite stable and looks good glowing or lit up with the lights in the base.

[@pico-cosmos]

Oo I might have to check out that kit some time 👀 sounds interesting

[@marvelljones72]

@@pico-cosmos They sent "Aqua Dragon eggs" into space (technically near-space) in 2017. That's part of what's included in the Live Astro Pets Deluxe kit. So it would be nice if the eggs were a bit younger, but they definitely still get a decent hatch rate (mine hatched almost a year ago).

[@LuvableCharlin]

I don't know much about this type of animals, but I had aquariums for over 10 years... Maybe you could add some natural (cleaned and boiled) rocks for algae to grow on? 😊 Guess that would look good too.

[@marvelljones72]

​@@LuvableCharlin Definitely a great idea for a custom tank! A lot of the Sea-Monkeys and Aqua Dragons official tanks have very limited space for adding anything else, although some of the official tanks should have enough space to accommodate smaller stones.

[@LuvableCharlin]

@@marvelljones72 It could just be some smaller ones? But yeah they seem small. 😅

[@Sno_mando]

I like the simplicity of this tank! And that venasaur lol

[@pico-cosmos]

Haha Venusaur is my boy!

[@55555711]

You really making want to get these again 😂they are cool 😎 this tank is nice and clear but my favorite still is the volcano 🌋👌

[@aqualabcreations]

Awesome video as always John! Interesting kit!

[@nickna694]

I prefer Triops over brine shrimp. Brine shrimp are pretty easy and fast though, great for kids before Triops.

[@hollidizzlemusic6946]

This kit looks awesome but the link in the description doesn't have it and I can't find it anywhere on Amazon 🥺

[@pico-cosmos]

Check their official website, it should be available there 👌

[@solofdragons6446]

Oh yeah, I'm very interested in getting the kit!

[@theresamendoza3353]

Looks awesome, thanks for sharing !

[@sammyb7753]

I like the tardigrade on the shelf 😎

[@jazz5842]

Please do a video on diying the perfect tank for sea monkeys i really want to have an aesthetically pleasing safe tank going for my 3 year old generation

[@karen3530]

First time I’m seeing this tank and it’s gorgeous 😍 probably the most “aesthetic” looking tank commercially available so far. Sucks though I don’t think they ship to the PH 🥲

[@CrxyLinda]

Another one with no bubble magnifier! :O yay! As for the food/dry algae, I think you can dissolve it in water first and then put it under the microscope and find out what kind of algae they're using. :) And for the high hatch rate, for me, as long as I have the air pump in the tank to aerate it, most of them will survive, other you could use the cupid arrow again xD and get them mating

[@pico-cosmos]

Haha I’m working on a video about Cupid’s Arrow at the moment!

[@JS-ev4xc]

Nicest container so far, can even placed a batt operated LED underneath.

[@Troubled-Kidd]

I’d love to see a beta tank being made to eventually house these little guys :] I don’t know what exactly you’d have to add to make it suitable but it would be a fun project to watch come to life

[@Cringeseventeen]

I have a good tip you could use a water plant grower it has light on the top and a water bubbler in the water all you need to do is plug it in it would be good to raise brine shrimp and grow algae

[@Capybaraz230]

This is really cool

[@call9779]

I wish they still sold Aqua Dragons in Canada. This looks like a great kit.

[@jasonhedtke659]

I'm going to order this next week 😊

[@zero_eyes]

Awesome video and such a cool tank. I'd love to see you modify it, maybe add some weight to the base and figure out how to make that lid accommodate the heater.

[@zero_eyes]

This finally came to the US and it's better than I expected. Probably my favorite tank so far visually. I'll be modifying the lid soon for the heater!

[@mikente1976]

How does the lifespan of aqua dragons compare to sea monkeys'?

[@pico-cosmos]

I haven’t noticed any difference in life span between the two tbh

[@BigggRoss]

ok @7:38 on the left side the big bunch past the gap. That first one is green I wonder if that is some sort of algae seed

[@pico-cosmos]

Oh I don’t think so, it’s probably just chromatic aberration from the camera lens 😅

[@natashacooling987]

That packet definitely has the odd little​ green bit in. I had 1 or 2 in my kit (I just got the refill kit). They eventually disappear/ dissolve. @pico-cosmos

[@Alxasaurus]

Cleanest Artemia kit ever.

[@CJ-ht4rf]

That actually looks like a really great tank design

[@Zo786IL]

Do you have to feed them when the algae grows?

[@patriciobarreiro]

Sea Monkeys are going to have to do something, innovate their products in some way. Not just changing the art of the characters. Because Aqua Dragons is overshadowing him quite a bit.

[@pico-cosmos]

I really want them to release a new tank or aquarium watch! I haven’t heard anything about that happening though :/

[@trogdortheburninator3621]

Aqua dragons 😊 sea monkeys in the states. I love brine shrimp. When I was a kid (as an adult) I always wanted the sea monkeys on Mars kit

[@phuonganhxox]

It's so wonderful!

[@Nigelaquaticsfish]

He has potential to be the best aquatic KZbinr

[@fernandozahonero8157]

Thanks for your video!!

[@pamelanadel3787]

Cool beans! ❤

[@nikopanchi1332]

I need to ask where that little brine shrimp model is from!! The one next to your tank looks so nice!

[@pico-cosmos]

It’s from eBay. I believe they were sold by a Japanese museum or something

[@Nigelaquaticsfish]

Keep pushing hard man ik you reading

[@pico-cosmos]

🙏 cheers man appreciate your encouragement

[@amberback1]

I like this tank’s look as well, but I also can see the downside. I’ve got an Aqua Dragon kit (the one that looks like a big egg) that’s over a month old now, but I’ve yet to see any signs of reproduction in that cooling colony. There is good algae growth as I feed with my own home grown algae. Guess I’ll just have to be patient. 😅

[@monkeanimations]

Can you raise triops? That would be interesting

[@olliexx]

What do i do? My eggs from the Seamonkeys are just on the floor of the water, And not done anything. It’s been 3 days..? They aren’t even floating.

[@DLCoates1]

1:52 I mean, technically it falls under the classification of a STEM kit, therefore it would be all ages not just kids lol. Also it’s funny that you mention those glasses. The design for this tank was actually based on those glasses, just upscaled and flattened.

[@pico-cosmos]

:O I didn’t know that. Were you involved in the design in some capacity?

[@DLCoates1]

@@pico-cosmos nope, just a quick patent check. Patents always list any included, or modified patents. This specific tank happens to show a mould utilized for the shot glasses.

[@pico-cosmos]

@DLCoates1 which website did you find it on? Would love to give it a read!

[@DLCoates1]

The Justia patent site. This tank has been out for a bit, and was at one point sold here in the US. They also have a tank that was based off the standard ocean zoo from SM.

[@pico-cosmos]

@DLCoates1 what did you search for? I can’t find it

[@emilianopinedaperez]

Could you try out the basic kit of “the gluupys Cancun”?

[@GabeTheGrump]

I'm interested to see a video if there's any homemade tanks you'd recommend trying out maybe if they're any better than these kits. Maybe people that can't get sea monkies but can still buy brine shrimp eggs and make their own tanks. I had the idea of using a heavy glass mason jar with a few objects inside for alge growth instead of these flimsy plastic tanks.

[@pico-cosmos]

I will do a DIY tutorial at some point 👍 It’s going to be quite in depth because there’s a lot to cover

[@shelleoshelle7252]

Excellent video. Thank you. How many tanks do you have running? How old is the oldest tank and how are the pets doing in that tank?

[@AnythingAerial]

I am hooked.

[@Lych_264]

Wow

[@manaos843]

Muy buenos videos! Saludos desde Argentina

[@dartzzyandfriends2032]

I need to start a brine shrimp farm to help feed my bettas some extra protein

[@Pandapops-gt9xt]

would love to see a video on triops

[@robynswan2072]

Do you have a top for this kit that accommodates the mini aquarium equipment?

[@Sifar333]

@picocosmos you said we should cycle the tank , how to do that?

[@pico-cosmos]

Cycling the tank takes time, one of the reasons a lot of tanks fail in the first week is because they haven’t properly cycled yet. The best thing to do is just follow the instructions from my videos and make sure not to overfeed your pets. Less is more when it comes to feeding 👍 feeding them live algae is very helpful too, but that’s more complicated

[@thatdude5000-ke6gr]

cool

[@SlinkySmith59]

I think i just found my favorite joke!

[@silkeenrosemarijn]

i like sea monkeys i was startet by myself but its took cold

[@rustyholt6619]

very cool ,,, i have gotta try one of these

[@hyfy-tr2jy]

Question. I got a young boy one of these kits and noticed the "second generation" of shrimp show up before there were any egg bearing adults. Are these eggs that took a few weeks to hatch or are there eggs in the food? Just can't figure out where this second wave of shrimp came from

[@LuvableCharlin]

I think we should stop framing living animals as a toy for kids tbh. 😅 I got so happy to see you putting the air thing in, giving light and heath, etc. I feel like many just let them die, that's so sad. I had sea monkeys as a kid.. As an adult I've seen people on KZbin keep them alive in real aquariums, that's so cool. :3 I'd like such a kit, if I could keep them alive and such.. I hate them "buy and throw away" thing people often have with these kits.

[@Lenny77199]

They are basically fish food 😂

[@LuvableCharlin]

@@Lenny77199 First off, they're not. Secondly, what does that have to do with anything?

[@Lenny77199]

@@LuvableCharlin they are. Fish food.

[@Lenny77199]

@@LuvableCharlin they are. Fish food.

[@LuvableCharlin]

@@Lenny77199 If you keep them like this, they're not fish food. It's not hard to understand. Like the difference between keeping a mouse as a pet or using it for snakes. I'll ask you again, what shitty argument do you even think you're making? Even if they're used for fish food, it's still got nothing to do with what I said. Your mom really needs to limit your time on KZbin.

[@AaBb-sn3ji]

Can you put moss balls in or will they get tangled?

[@OfcLynnieLynn]

Which instant Brine shrimp kit is the best out of all of the ones you have used ever? I am thinking about getting some. I may get a small tank and the tools needed to take care of them!

[@pico-cosmos]

Either the one in this video or the Sea-Monkeys Ocean Volcano. Both are great options for beginners 👍

[@Deshawnbegone]

Can you do easy D.I.Y. Tanks?

[@natsuki1609]

Please do Triops Deluxe kit

[@emmaklippel2815]

My kiddo just got sea monkeys for his birthday and obviously it's winter here in Australia. How long will they take to hatch? It's been 3 days so far and we're still waiting. Did I screw it up by not waiting for warmer conditions?

[@pico-cosmos]

Watch my video titled “10 essential Sea-Monkey tips for beginners” - temperature is very important.

[@Kanyewestlover26]

whats the best way to keep my tank water warm without the usb heater. I have it in indirect sunlight but I'm worried that my room is too cold.

[@pico-cosmos]

The best thing you can do is keep your house warm with heating. Keeping your tank up somewhere high should help a little too as heat rises

[@monkeymangaming81]

Are the volcano kit and this one out yet

[@pico-cosmos]

They’re both available on the aqua dragon website

[@monkeymangaming81]

@@pico-cosmos ok thanks

[@justicierodelaliga]

I imagine that, by now, you have a repeated dream of you imagining yourself breast feeding the brine shrimp. Sometimes as their cartoon versions and others how they really are...so that it doesn´t get boring. ;)

[@pico-cosmos]

How’d you know? 😳

[@justicierodelaliga]

Because you are the Brine Shrimp god. ;) By the way, just so it doesn´t get boring you should name each one.@@pico-cosmos

[@adenridesdragons1321]

Tried to get this one in the US recently... no luck :(

[@pico-cosmos]

:/ does their website not ship there?

[@adenridesdragons1321]

@@pico-cosmos Oop, not that I could see. Maybe in the future!

[@geopixx]

Would it be safe to put some moss into the tank? For feeding purposes?

[@pico-cosmos]

Moss won’t survive because the water is too salty

[@geopixx]

@@pico-cosmos alright, thanks.

[@MrX00110]

2:36 well that was unexpected…

[@verka849]

Please buy opae ula ecosphere and start new series

[@Sidewaysdog]

“Tick all the boxes”… Tickle the boxes