Sea-Monkey Packet Experiments!

[@TodMachin]

Truly ambitious and well done, John. All of my packets remain unused and sealed in plastic as part of the collection … so it’s great to FINALLY see these “IN ACTION.” (Or NOT in action as the case may be.) I love how you handled the “Living Plasma” / “Plasma II” / “Plasma III” / “Packet 3” / Packet 4” - and “Jumbo Living Plasma” confusion. That was about as clear and concise as that confusing mess could have been explained. I agree with your overall assessment of these supplemental ingredient packets - they basically sneak duplicate ingredients into your tank to keep your colony growing and keep children engaged in their minuscule pets. “Even the crappy Sea-Diamonds.” HA! The real value for me is in the hyperbole and humor. That seems to be the baseline for all things Sea-Monkeys - and Harold was most certainly the master at that. This was a huge undertaking. Congrats on getting this one behind you. - Tod

[@Analog_Momo]

Hey Tod! It’s Carter I got your Email yesterday I just wanted to let you know you’re an inspiration and I will be responding properly very soon. Keep up the great work you genuinely do give me hope for products in the future to gain a quality and creativity that has been lost for too long! ❤❤

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks again for all your help with this one, Tod! Even though it took a lot of work, putting this video together was a lot of fun. I'm glad you approve of my attempt at explaining the messy Plasma history too 😆 On to my Ocean Zoo review video next! But first time to catch up on some sleep 😴

[@gulliblesbabbles]

@@Analog_Momo: Hello, Carter. Glad to find you over here on KZbin. You’ll learn a ton about Sea-Monkeys from John’s videos. - Tod

[@gulliblesbabbles]

@@pico-cosmos: An Ocean-Zoo video will be another fun one for YOU to make and ME to watch. Ha! 😅😅😅

[@suiawi]

Ggcgid

[@user-cb3qr9dt2k]

As a kid in the 70's my mother told me they were a scam, and not living things, and not to waste the money on them. I figured they just moved around due to some chemical reaction for a while. Like those baking soda-powered plastic toys, you would get in cereal boxes. All these years later they were Brine Shrimp. I can't believe I was so misled as a child. I feel cheated now.

[@ELIT3R]

Mom got some explaining to do😂

[@HaloInverse]

It's a hard but necessary lesson - when you get to the age that your parents were when you were young, you realize how often people your age, _including you_ (i.e. the new "grown-ups") are _wrong_ about things. Easily, often, and sometimes stubbornly. ...and yet, if/when you're a "grown-up" with children of your own, you need them to trust you enough to listen to you - so you have to _seem_ knowledgeable and correct, even if you might be wrong.

[@aylaxypt]

There's still time to enjoy them! ❤

[@queenzacallystasusanto7378]

I found mine in a toy store.😂😂😂

[@konayasai]

​@@HaloInverseI make it a point to look things up with my kid if I'm not sure of the answer, teaching at the same time how to look things up and vet sources. My authority remains undiminished.

[@Sneezebeef]

i never knew i'd be so enthralled by a 46 minute video about sea monkeys of all things

[@gulliblesbabbles]

Amen! It seems so unlikely but they are surprisingly fun to watch.

[@Lyysabeth]

Specifically on a KZbin channel I've never seen before 🤣 I also didn't even really like sea monkeys as a kid haha

[@JesterAzazel]

Same. Now I worry that KZbin will want to show me more..

[@TammieSuehiro]

@@Lyysabeth I feel this, I had some in middle or high school and I accidentally killed them...I felt so bad I hid them in the back of my closet because I couldn't bear to look at the poor creatures...

[@GeoplexMCX]

same, but they are quite interesting!

[@Crimson_Aura]

In 5th grade we has sea monkeys as a class pet, but they all ate each other until there was one left and it was GIGANTIC

[@Angie_Arts]

The mega monki >:D

[@Myebayvideoschicago]

The circle…the circle of life

[@treefrog123a]

Ha ha ha ha hs ha😅😅😅😅😅😅😮😢😅😅😅😅

[@CharlieParadigm]

This is what happened to my sister’s sea monkeys

[@SheldonChambers-sp6sw]

​@@CharlieParadigmIs that what you told her 😈

[@jclark2752]

I do not think the importance of the artwork used in the Sea-Monkey business can ever be OVER-Stated! The Artwork MADE the entire phenomenon thread and cloth! The Artist can Never Be given Enough Credit!

[@pico-cosmos]

100%! I really think Orlando’s illustrations are a big reason for the brand’s success

[@mariebelladonna437]

@@pico-cosmos agreed! I remember getting a Sea-Monkey kit as a little kid, and being disappointed when they hatched and didn't actually look like the packaging! 😂😂

[@HeatherWho11.10]

​@@mariebelladonna437if I remember correctly, there was a lawsuit over that

[@mariebelladonna437]

@@HeatherWho11.10 oh ffs. I was a little kid. But adults should know better. Then again, common sense is NOT common at all. And people will sue over anything. Wonder if that's why the packets were changed to just the big numbers, lol.

[@LydiaStarz]

Right?! Seeing them at the back of the TV Guide was what made me want them! Sitting on tiny Sea Monkey furniture. Lol

[@CullenCraft]

I like to think the extra eggs in the packets aren't on purpose - and that their factory is just overflowing with SeaMonkey cysts and those things get EVERYWHERE

[@pico-cosmos]

🤣

[@RealBradMiller]

I got Sea Monkeys growing in my nasal cavity again.... 😮‍💨

[@SerenityBugify]

SeaMonkey version of glitter lol

[@Nevir202]

TBH, there's probably a tiny grain of truth to that. My friend kicked my sea monkeys over onto the floor. It was carpet so there wasn't really anything I could do for them. I put the tank back on the table with just the residue of the water remaining in it, and when I decided to wash it out months later, much to my surprise, after having added water, there were sea monkeys in the tank, from nothing. So, considering the truly industrial scale they must be farming them on I imagine their eggs DO go a lot of places by accident. LOL

[@anondimwit]

@@Nevir202 are you still friends with that meanie?

[@aslurmyfrog]

In hospital we give certain patients "banana bags", which a bags of IV solution with additional b vitamins (including thiamine) and electrolytes. The vitamins turn the solution yellow, thus the name.

[@pico-cosmos]

Ah that’s super interesting! Maybe that’s how they got the name for this stuff too

[@aslurmyfrog]

@@pico-cosmos that's what I'm wondering, too.

[@treefrog123a]

With sea monkeys!!!!!!

[@jubileeYAVEL]

I thought it was because of the potassium

[@Lurch-Bot]

Ringer's on steroids.

[@Silentgrace11]

I’m admittedly rather confused where the KZbin algo decided I should watch a 46 minute video on brine shrimp (maybe pulling from my binge of the Leon the Lobster videos six months ago) but I will say this was surprisingly interesting and informative! I didn’t know brine shrimp, or the community surrounding them, could grow and thrive as well as it clearly has. Thanks for the video!

[@TheHopperUK]

I know right, the algorithm gave me this channel a few days ago and I am delighted and charmed. And I kinda want some sea monkeys.

[@MissyJ-J]

Same here

[@user-bx3kz9sp8p]

Leon mentioned! Lol

[@IIIAnchani]

I have no intention of getting a weird shrimp aquarium. Why am I watching this? Idk, but I definitely will keep watching this xP

[@pico-cosmos]

Lol you should totally get a weird shrimp aquarium

[@Littleham117]

​@@pico-cosmosgood idea

[@Lurch-Bot]

Watching this video satisfies any curiosity I ever had concerning sea monkey kits. Never got one when I was a kid because I had real fish. Used to feed 'em to cichlids but just bought them freeze dried from the store.

[@DannyDevitoOffical-TrustMeBro]

@@Lurch-Bot I was confused by these as a child, because the only place I ever saw them (or advertisements for them, I should clarify) was in comic books/children’s periodicals from when my mom was a kid. She kept a lot of the various toys and media she loved as a child, and then handed them down to my siblings and me. I can’t remember if the ads I saw were in the Scrooge mcduck comics or a different one, but it definitely was a strange situation for me as a small child to stumble across those illustrations of “sea monkeys”, when I was just trying to read about ducks getting up to hijinks in peace. The fact that they were just barely humanoid and flesh colored was very uncomfortable lol It’s cool to finally get a lot of my questions about these little guys cleared up, though I’ll never understand how someone looked at a brine shrimp and thought “yup, that looks like a monkey”.

[@bdbyt6835]

Got neocaradina, now brine shrimp.

[@RonHarrisMe]

In 1973, I was 10 years old. I ordered a Sea Monkey Kit from the back of a Comic Book. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a very fun kit. It taught me patience for sure. I got them to live for a few months, carefully not to over feed them. Ah, the memories.

[@Fiddlesticks52]

I thought those ads in comic books were so magical. I always wanted to get them. Glad you did and worked out well 😀

[@zimTheDragonOwner]

Lol I got the books with all the random fidgets and stuff when I was like 5-7 still do sometimes (I’m much younger then you lol)

[@insaneyogurt4993]

So 61 now, have your own family?

[@ccrgrl]

Same, except a teen magazine for me.

[@ruthuhl1969]

Tried it a few times in the early 80s, it never worked. Now I'm convinced my mom used to clean up or messed with it in other ways 💀

[@XXavierSin-XXs]

So the creator of Sea Monkeys is a genius who resold brine shrimp eggs in 12 packets with different artwork. Dude really had a grand idea.

[@bareakon]

I'd recommend doing more research on Harold Von Braunhut before calling him a genius. Great marketer, but hoo boy...

[@XXavierSin-XXs]

@bareakon No I intend the fact that he managed to sell some bs over and over again. It is amazing marketing. I don't mean he has insane brains gains.

[@joutoob9]

@@XXavierSin-XXs Boreskon was alluding to the fact that Harold was a big time knotsy.

[@childofcascadia]

@joutoob9 Hoo boy. Yeah. I always take claims of someone being a knotzee with a grain of salt so I went to do some research. But, it doesnt take a deep dive to find that info more like 30 secs. Dude was publicly loud and proud about his membership in the Ari Anne Nation and triple K. (Isnt it fun the way you have to type on youtube to avoid being censored. Ive tried to post this comment twice already using the real words and couldnt get it posted). He also is Jewish, and added the "von" to his last name to make his name sound less Jewish and more German But yeah. He sounds like an insanely conflicted person, a jewish knotzee "white people are better than everyone else" type.

[@cyanidenightshade]

​@@childofcascadiahe was a token nazi. essentially a pick me girl for aryans

[@sabbat3870]

i am delighted to be informed that sea monkey autism exists. i'll be watching more in the future

[@pico-cosmos]

🤣 this is definitely the most autistic video I’ve ever made

[@zeilouswolf]

@@pico-cosmos as an autistic special-interest-collector myself, you def had my full hyper-focus for the entirety of this video.

[@pico-cosmos]

Our superpower 💪

[@3173_Delta]

Nah I read "sea monkey autism" and I thought the sea monkeys were autistic 😭

[@House_Of_Brine]

The finding of this video has created a new hyperfixation for me and I'm so incredibly excited to start my own colony!

[@Bunker278]

As a Utah Native, I've long known about the Brine Shrimp growing in The Great Salt Lake. The Union Pacific Railroad Causeway that divided the Lake in half has changed the salinity and, hence, the biome and associated color of the water. This can easily be seen on satellite imagery. Fun fact: We used to have a Flamingo, affectionately known as "Pink Floyd" who escaped the Tracy Aviary in 1988 and took up residence on and around Antelope Island. His pink color was maintained through the carotenoid nutrients in the Brine Shrimp he was consuming. As a Chilean Flamingo, the high-altitude terminal lake environment worked for him. He'd leave when the weather turned too cold and come back every year. 2005 was his last visit. I never saw him, but I saw his fellow Flamingos during a school field trip to the Tracy Aviary back in 1989. Excellent video.

[@pico-cosmos]

That’s so interesting! You’re so lucky to have such interesting wildlife in North America. Yeah I’ve heard Flamingos get their colour from the brine shrimp they eat. Apparently the brine shrimp turn red from the astaxanthin in the phytoplankton they consume 🦐

[@zatoichiMiyamoto]

Didn't knew they were known as chilean flamingos. Greetings from Chile!

[@airfriedquadsbw]

I have only seen wild flamingos in one place, Bonaire. The island is also the only place in the world that has wild donkeys.

[@loralou-djflowerdove]

Actually, Southwestern Colorado has wild burros, AND Mustangs (wild horses & donkeys).

[@AbstractBore22]

I live in Arizona and there are wild burros that are descendants of the old mining mules during the gold rush

[@therupoe]

Sea Diamonds give your pets the authentic ocean experience… micro plastics

[@pico-cosmos]

😂

[@LunaWisteria-HopefulV-Bean]

@@pico-cosmosEMOTIONAL DAMAGE

[@LunaWisteria-HopefulV-Bean]

NOOOOOOO *WHEEZES*

[@katekucharski9208]

😂 iconic

[@jenndoesstuff]

I was really not expecting this to be a full investigative deep dive into sea monkies/brine shrimp, but I loved the detail and the history behind the pop culture phenomenon!

[@FuzzyDunIop]

This video is so random, but interestingly i remembered that in my old bedroom closet at my mother's house, there's boxes of stuff from my late 60s early 70s childhood and there are a bunch of these packets floating around loose in them as well as an aquarium although i cant recall which one. I will definitely be digging them out on my next trip up there to see which of these i have. Thanks for the memory!

[@pico-cosmos]

That old tank might be worth a fair bit!

[@newmonengineering]

Seeing those old manuals really made me wish we had some sort of internet archive of everything from the 1900. So many published manuals are gone, but had such classic charm and marketing over the years. It would be so nice to browse through history in marketing and manuals from 1920s, 50s, etc. So many fun pictures, gimmics and marketing scams. You made an awesome video, i had to watch the whole thing. I have had sea monkeys on more than one occasion growing up. It was an awesome history review.

[@uiopuiop3472]

Me when ohio women coms to school: 21:10

[@Joeh_]

That would be so cool for art, especially collages

[@uiopuiop3472]

@@Joeh_ yoo yess

[@steelplasma256]

Earlier last year I tried raising Sea Monkeys again with the hope of them breeding and making multiple generations. While I was initially happy to see many mating seamonkeys I couldn't get algae to grow at all. I had an adjustable heater and light aeration (took time to get the airflow to make not be overwhelming). I initially thought they were making natural babies when I saw new tiny sea monkeys but became suspicious after new babies appeared after most of the original ones died and they hadn't mated in weeks. When only one adult was alive I added #3 food packet and saw a few new baby seamonkeys the next day.

[@Strawberry-Guy]

Immaculate conception!! 😱

[@CrimsonDraggen]

​@@Strawberry-Guy or parthogenesis

[@dizzydragon]

Its so nice to see a breakdown of the packets, some of them are so lost to time

[@pico-cosmos]

Videos like this are part of the reason I started this channel - I always wanted to watch content about this stuff but it never existed. I’m glad I can finally shed some light on these mysterious powdered oddities :)

[@indnajns]

@@pico-cosmos Yes, but I was screaming "Noooo!" as you opened the antique and "rare" Racing Fuel. :p

[@Lurch-Bot]

The fact they put eggs in all the packets was an unsurprising revelation.

[@dizzydragon]

The sea medic is probably tetracyclin, zinc oxide or thiosulfates they are mentioned in the original mix for water purifier, so probably just a mix of what they already had at hand

[@Baughbe]

Sea-monkeys started my aquatic life hobby in my childhood. From cheap sea-monkey plastic tank kit bought from one of those poorly printed ads in a kids magazine, to seahorses and a real tank... to doing a 55 gallon sea salt aquarium with clownfish, sea anemones, hermit crabs and snails. All starting with sea-monkeys.

[@BlackDogsAndLadybugs]

Little you would be so happy to see you and all of that work now.

[@D9fjg]

i guess everything starts little

[@PossibleBat]

Impressive, not a lot of people continue on with their childhood passion, so congrats to you! Hope you keep your passion burning hot 🔥

[@Itsme-xf7sx]

In Germany they called saline crabs (we Germans love our precious language). And in my childhood there were a package of saline crab eggs and algae food. You take just tap water in a glass, the right amount of salt and algae. That's all and works

[@anniestumpy9918]

Urzeitkrebse! 😊

[@lisastein8446]

An alternative name is fairy crabs! This makes me love our precious language even more

[@Lillian2167]

The classic artwork is so cute, really gives personality to the sea monkey mascots. :3

[@paullambert7840]

I really wish they'd return to using the anthropormorphized sea monkey art on the packets. Maybe it just speaks nostalgia in me, but it's clearly more fun.

[@pico-cosmos]

Yeah I’ve thought this for ages too! The illustrated packet designs are so much nicer. From what I’ve heard there’s no plan to go back to them though :/

[@dshe8637]

They would be great on tshirts, like you suggested

[@Hapwer]

I spilled jam on my phone and accidentally bought super thanks, but oh well at least its the best sea monkey youtuber on KZbin

[@pico-cosmos]

Haha thanks! I haven’t received one of these in like a year so I really appreciate it, even if it was an accident 😅

[@JC-tf9wo]

I laughed when you said “I’ve been giving them my banana treat. After watching this I have to get a sea monkey kit.

[@robotortoise]

Hah, I'm a bit disappointed that the packets are generally just eggs (especially Cupid's arrow! Would have enjoyed seeing sea monkey orgies!) but I can't say I'm particularly surprised. Regardless, as a kid I remember being enthralled by these silly little packets and I appreciate that you did such a deep dive and uploaded so much material to the Internet archive!

[@Jampotato]

Lol same tho

[@walteringle2258]

I hung out for a few weeks with a guy who collected band flyers and poster memorabilia. Helped him curate his collection after he got a fresh influx of material from a guy liquidating. It was the 90s, and a lot of those flyers dated to the 50s and 60s to a few months previous. He did eventually turn it into an official museum. A lot of the color choices in the printing runs of the containers of food, etc. are due it being the cheapest colors available. You worked gonzo art within an affordable color pallette if you used color at all. The different color choices over the years track with the colors on some of those flyers and posters. You see similar things in underground comic books/graphic novels. The silver packet was made with a discontinued military machine designed for MREs to keep table salt from getting wet. I /think/ it was a Korean War addition to MREs, due to the humidity but it's been a while since that convo with the expert. 'That green bio material' is almost certainly dried pureed kelp, btw. A lot of dried green teas use dried kelp as a filler, which is why I think you're comparing the flavor.

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks for the insight! That was really helpful. I definitely think you’re right about the kelp powder too - a few people have mentioned it and it looks like a perfect visual match

[@sandie9382]

Mre first came out in 1981 perhaps the salt was packaged for the older c rations which were canned food

[@walteringle2258]

@@sandie9382 I was using the more modern "MRE" for the younger set that get it. I'm 51. In my early childhood they were still 'military rations'. The Apollo program did a lot for promoting ground level food preservation that was too expensive at the time for casual use. Same foundational tech is used in every packaged food product you buy in a grocery store. Find some 'TANG'. grab something flavorless and about 40% ABV, put them together and recognize you can get drunk in microgravity, but the journey to getting there is barely worth it.

[@TheD3cline]

I feel like this is the most important video on youtube. I had lived my entire life not realizing they had a whole product ecosystem beyond just the first 3. This explains so much about the 90s and the rest of the franchises we were sold as kids. Like going back and watching TV from the 1940s.

[@kenotherep]

As a non-American, I didn’t know sea-monkeys existed before now. So this was a cool video to stumble upon.

[@suruxstrawde8322]

Ye we have a weird fascination with selling animals a toys for children. Same thing happens with beta fish, hamsters, frogs, triops, and hermit crabs.

[@pappi8338]

​@@suruxstrawde8322I grew up with ants :)

[@suruxstrawde8322]

@@pappi8338 same, but mine weren't in a farm, they just lived in the house with us, same as the spiders.

[@Lurch-Bot]

OP sounds like a Kiwi to me. Maybe an Aussie but pretty sure they're from New Zealand. There were plenty of both at the boarding school I attended in the UK. The difference in accent is subtle. The best way I could describe it is that there is more of a hint of RP English in a Kiwi accent and they don't pronounce exaggerated u sounds like an Aussie.

[@Jamiiemac]

@@suruxstrawde8322it was the same here in the uk, well at least in the 90s and early 2000s. I remember it so strongly as a child, seeing people using a stick with a hook to pick up the rubber ducks. Then getting a tiny fish in a plastic bag and carrying it home Things have changed and there are now a lot more animal safety regulations. So thankfully, you can’t just win a goldfish, or any other live animal, as a prize anymore

[@MD-kwtx1]

I'm 63 and have loved Sea Monkeys since I was 8 years old when I first ordered them from the back of a comic book. I love how they are humanized in the illustrations and the descriptions on the packets and in the handbook solidify their "humanity". They act and feel just like us! I think I'm going to have to get some more soon! Thanks for this "deep dive" and bringing back the special memories of my childhood.

[@ohthatdemoness6]

100% there needs to be shirts, the artwork is so good and i think tons of science fans and marine biology fans would adore it

[@Quimquat]

I have plans to hand carve some lithographs with the packet graphics and print those on shirts so, I would be interested in tee-shirts. Sea monkeys are a hyperfixation of mine. I currently have a thriving colony in the blue, glow-in-the-dark volcano tank

[@pico-cosmos]

Oh nice! Definitely keen to see your shirt designs when they’re done :D

[@truckerdave8465]

Oooh neat! What did you think of the show from the 90s?

[@Quimquat]

@truckerdave8465 Gasp! I wasn't aware of it until now. TBH, it looks insane...Howie Mandel?!?!

[@truckerdave8465]

@@Quimquat Lol oh it was SUPER insane. Like no one expects a live action sea monkey show.

[@zZBucketsZz]

Sometimes the KZbin algorithm works. I didnt know I wanted to learn so much about Sea Monkeys.

[@Maaartyyy]

46 minutes of great content AND archiving handbooks? Amazing! I just love seeing the channel grow and all I can say is that it's completely deserved! Thank you so much for archiving the handbooks, stuff like this gets overlooked when talking about archiving media!

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks :) I really appreciate the kind words. There’s one more Sea-Monkey handbook I don’t have yet, so I’ll definitely make a PDF of that one too if I ever get my hands on it :)

[@photobygil]

Fantastic long form video, from start to finish! As a grade schooler in 1971, I was instantly captured by Joe Orlando's classic art, which I first saw in a comic book ad. I had no idea he didn't also draw that original "Hatchy" baby character in the broken eggshell until just now. It's nice that you credit all the creative hands in the ongoing popularity of this brand. After I was officially hooked in 1974, I bought most of these specialty packets through the mail, always anxious to see how the Sea-Monkeys would be depicted next. I'm embarrassed to say that, although I fanatically memorized the handbook, I mis-read GRO-KWIKLY as GRO-KWILLY, & never realized I was wrong until I was in my thirties! "Kwilly" just seemed like a good aquatic word, & that's what my brain filled in. Also, I seem to be having false memories of another piece of art for that packet, showing young Sea-Monkeys having their height measured by a parent with a ruler. Generally speaking, I have crystal clear memories (at least of the stuff I obsess over), but I guess this non-existent illustration is just something I dreamed up, due to constantly poring over the product descriptions at the back of the handbook. Anyway, thanks for yet another informative, highly entertaining review. Sea-Monkey Fan for Life!

[@TodMachin]

John's got the most interesting and well produced content on Sea-Monkeys out there. The lengths he goes too is truly admirable.

[@photobygil]

@@TodMachin I agree! John's unabashed passion for the subject instantly lends credibility to the hobby, which is not something I'd experienced before. (I can't count the looks of incredulity I often get from adult friends who cannot relate to my obsession, ha ha!). Beyond being informative, his editing skills are incredible. I'm always impressed by his seamless transitions showing an empty tank suddenly full of Sea-Monkeys. And the super magnified examination of brine shrimp, food, & other stuff (deceased Sea-Monkeys, for example) is genuinely fascinating, not to mention very professional looking. It's nice that he gets assistance from you, of course, one of the "creative hands" I mentioned above! Sea-Monkeys are a true phenomenon. Long after kids (& grown-ups) first discover that artemia salina look NOTHING like the fanciful promotional art, we still remain devoted to raising them. That speaks volumes to the power of advertising AND these tiny aquatic creatures, which always appear so peaceful, gliding through the water. I always look forward to John's next review, & I'm just as excited to see that you're working on new projects to this day!

[@GippyHappy]

Every packet is just like when your goldfish dies and your parents just replace it with a new one without telling you

[@LadyTroubadour]

I came to this channel because of my passion for animals but have stayed because of your obvious passion! The way that you clearly love not only these cool animals and ones like them, and learning about the ways to keep them healthy as you observe their tiny ecosystem; the love you have for the nostalgia and levity of the sea monkey branding; the thoroughness of your investigation into the history and viability of the various "hatchable aquatic pet" products... it all comes together to make something truly unique that is really enjoyable. The icing on the cake is your sense of humor and deadpan delivery, exactly up my alley and cracks me up every time (I like to rewatch the racing track video when I need a chuckle). You have also created a monster because I have now purchased an "Aqua Dragons" kit and plan to get the "Sea Monkeys on Mars" (from your site of course) as well.... my room is already full of my isopods, freshwater shrimp, spiders, feeder bugs, geckos, micro squirrels, and plants, so on the one hand what's one more but on the other, SALTWATER?! What am I getting myself into....

[@LadyTroubadour]

Update: The Sea Monkeys on Mars kit (purchased via your affiliate link) arrived today! I was very excited to fill it with water and packets 1 and 2! The videos don't do justice to the nice details but moreso, how absolutely tiny it is! It's the cutest thing! I'm so enamored, I really hope the babies hatch and thrive!

[@LadyTroubadour]

Update 2: So far I see only one baby for sure, but I'm hoping more hatch as time goes on, we're only on day 3. I have them in a windowsill that only really gets indirect light, and on a heating pad because our house is well air conditioned. I use the aqua leash to aerate a few times a day. The baby is very very tiny and really fast! The videos make it look like they kind of bumble lazily in the water but they're BOOKIN' IT in there. XD

[@Nova-bv5qb]

@@LadyTroubadour How are they now?

[@LadyTroubadour]

@@Nova-bv5qb Aw thanks for checking on them! I have 2 adult females now. Not sure why numbers ended up so low but am delighted with watching them swim through the little Mars arches and get very excited for their tiny partial scoops of powder. Just like previous videos on the channel have observed before, the Aqua Dragons had a big hatchout at first but then there was a die-off, and the water quality crashed and I lost them all.

[@mongguppiesandendlers]

I have seen videos of ppl hatching sea monkeys in aquariums and raising them in there. I wish the sea monkey company would sell macro algae for those of us who want to decorate the tank with live things.

[@catpoke9557]

Algae is also really good for sea monkeys

[@Tera_B_Twilight]

I'm impressed. Those packets were more useful than I had expected, and not just relabeled "replacement monkeys". I do wonder whether over-salination is a problem, for example, with using the medic pouch. I've never had sea monkeys myself, but I have to admit they do look fun!

[@pico-cosmos]

Brine shrimp are tolerant to an insanely wide salinity range, so you could probably use a few of the sea-medic pouches before it became an issue 😆

[@noturdad5354]

I love that you just got a tardigrade right behind you

[@karenkrohn8003]

Good eye!

[@SalamanderFangskin]

🤯 I don't think even the creators themselves have immersed in the products as much as you did. It must have been a challenge to collect them all in the first place. It was all very fascinating. Thank you! 😊 - Ramón 🇲🇽

[@pico-cosmos]

You’re probably right about that 😆 I was fortunate that Tod basically gave me all of the packets for this video - otherwise obtaining them would’ve been pretty much impossible

[@ramsilva]

46 minutes from Picocosmos??? Am I dreaming?

[@pico-cosmos]

😂 never again! This thing took me soooo long to make. I’m glad it’s finally done though, been wanting to make this video for years

[@creatorkaitgd]

Yes, Ram, You are.

[@kyro0996]

And 4 seconds

[@khills]

@@pico-cosmos Oh, I love the long videos! And thank you for providing the patent link; I am indeed the kind of person who will nerd out and read patents for fun!

[@GeenieLoL]

🤓 erm actually it’s 46 minutes AND 4 seconds 🤓

[@Kalypso14]

bro the jokes for the cupids bow killed me XD "maybe itll work on me"

[@ErikRoberts1981]

I honestly didn't even know sea monkies were still a thing. This was absolutely fascinating. Thank you!

[@DaveedR]

I have been curious about, and searched for information on, a lot of these packets over the years. I was so happy to run into your video! I was specially curious about the Diamonds - that was a bit disappointing. Seeing some of you novelty tanks was a treat, I had no idea there were so many designs! Thank you to the packet donor and thank you for making this video!

[@Analog_Momo]

Finally someone covers the extra packets! You can see some of the packets such as the banana tree still you could mail an order open till 2022 but no one has covered them or really put a history out for them my first video on here was actually going to cover those packets and I was going to unboxed one of the vintage ocean zoo tanks, but I’ve been having a hard time finding the packets like you see photos of them but that’s about it. I’m glad you made a video on these finally! It’s a mysterious and really interesting part of Seamonkey history that isn’t really well covered anywhere online that seems to have existed even up until a few years ago just no one thought of archiving it properly. Another great video as always!

[@pico-cosmos]

I’d love to see you make some videos about them some time too :) hopefully they start selling them again soon so you can get some 🤞

[@emeraldhavoc9420]

29:20 the rare lesbian edition of Sea-Medic

[@pico-cosmos]

🤣 I had to google the lesbian flag to understand what you were on about. I might start a petition to bring back lesbian Sea-Medic 👩‍⚕️

[@mydogslikeboiledeggs7094]

I have never heard of a lesbian flag either.

[@davidamandacrambell7520]

is the image at 4m47s something you did from an artistic standpoint or are a ninja troll? this is my first time watching your content so i don't know if i am naive for pointing it out or not.

[@diamentus3774]

these chemicals in the water are turning my sea-monkeys GAY!

[@SlimeBlueMS]

I have a massive appreciation for everyone involved with the creation of sea monkeys, and you too for making this video. You sparked an interest in me that I haven't had since I was a child

[@anie6142]

Your most ambitious video yet! So many different packets and the history behind them, there was so much I didn't know before! It's nice to have a bit of confirmation that some of them do work as intended (I'm looking at you Sea Diamonds) while others were more of just a gimmick (still looking!). I do wish the Sea-Medic was more easily available because bacteria bloom is something I do struggle with in my tanks. Must be their environment since I live in a hot and semi-humid area. It would certainly help me from my colonies crashing. This was an awesome video, so much time and research and it was so informative! Thank you so much for making it and sharing it with us all, I hope you have a great day!

[@pico-cosmos]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for supporting the channel :)

[@Juicyboi_]

I got things to do and I somehow got stuck watching 46 minutes of sea monkies

[@eve_squared]

Never thought id find a sea monkey related youtuber. Nor did I expect to learn that most of the packets were a lie, though in good faith at least since they all still did relatively what they said they would.

[@GhostOfJade]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this is such a precious and wonderful hobby/special interest. I can imagine doing house chores and looking over at a little sea monkey tank and smiling at all the little shrimp.

[@House_Of_Brine]

I just want to say that finding this video has created an all-out obsession in me. I'm starting a 3L tank and got all the necessary supplies, even a nursery tank, so I can keep the colony going. I'm confident I can do a much better job than I did when I was a little kid after all the research I've done through watching all the tank setup and tips videos this channel has to offer. I am so excited to cultivate my own microalgae and watch my colony thrive! Thank you for inspiring me to keep sea monkeys as pets!

[@pico-cosmos]

I’d recommend just starting out with a Sea-Monkey or Aqua Dragon kit first, just until you get the hang of things. Even with all the info I provide it can still take practice/experience to get a ‘feel’ for the process. Brine Shrimp are notoriously tricky to raise 😅 good luck on your journey! ✨

[@House_Of_Brine]

@@pico-cosmos I was planning to start off in the smaller nursery tank I got. I'm not personally a fan of the tanks that come with kits, but I do find all the different designs interesting. I got a mini heater for my algae culture and one for the shrimp, as well as air lines and grow lights. I am hoping that I fare well on my journey. Thank you for the wishes!

[@Celestebun]

Such a great video, so educational and super glad Todd was so helpful to helping this video happen! Shout out to Todd for his generosity!🎉

[@luke144]

You've answered decades old questions, thank you.

[@pico-cosmos]

Honestly it feels so good to finally put this curiosity to rest 😆 I’ve been wondering about them for years too

[@jaymereynolds9172]

You have very kind eyes and voice. I have anxiety and listening to you calmed my anxiey spike, thank you. Also the brine shimp are so adorable! The lil leggies 😊

[@tobiasmills9647]

This is the first video of yours that I've seen, and you've got yourself a new subscriber. I love your innocence, that you didn't notice the innuendo between the banana treat, and it's stock number.

[@pico-cosmos]

Omg I spent a week editing this video and somehow never noticed that it’s product #69 🤣 good spot 🍌

[@tobiasmills9647]

@@pico-cosmos it was worth every painstaking minute. A thoroughly informative and entertaining watch, with just enough self deprecating humour to relate.

[@Peggysue661]

great job! lots of fun nostalgia. i’m 72 now and want to give it another go! still geeky after all these years!❤

[@ratwasnotbad4230]

Great video (so far! I had to pause and comment that YES, I think they should sell those vintage package graphics on shirts!)

[@charlieaguero-sanz-pn4jo]

Hi, thank you so much for making this video! I'm in my 50's now, and I started Sea Monkeys a few times - with varied results. I was very young when I first saw Sea Monkeys advertised in rare comics from the U.S. and I felt a little disappointed when I realised that the humanoid artwork was unrelated to what I was going to get. Having said that, I fell in love with the entire concept of a kit where you could hatch dormant eggs, watch the shrimp grow and produce a new generation. I read the literature over and over, wishing that I had the accessories - at least a tank, instead of a n old jar. I really appreciate your style, it's been great to take a trip down memory lane! Thanks again!

[@Dogfish63]

I grew up in the 70's and had many variations of these tanks. I also remember using what were called 'Magic Rocks' to grow stalagmite like crystals that towered from the bottom of the tank. I'm not sure if they were an official item for 'Sea Monkey's' or not. I'm also not sure if they were harmful to the brine shrimp or not. I just remember it looking really cool with the brine shrimp swimming around the crystal stalagmites.

[@lolfert]

Man's delivery of "my chronic impidence" caught me so off guard. That was very good

[@marilynb0509]

Loved this video. Tod’s amazing and appreciated by those of us who can’t get enough of the history and contents of items you obtain and share here. Thanks to you both! Fun and interesting.

[@CyntheticLifeform]

The yellow crystals in Sea Medic may be tetracycline- an antibiotic used in fish tanks to treat bacterial infections and blooms! I used to work with Zebrafish for R&D.

[@jamphire_]

I am not from the US and I never heard of Sea-Monkeys in my life until a couple of years ago on South Park. At first, I thought it was a joke or something. After watching the episode, I got some information about it here and there, but honestly, I didn't care. I have said all of this to say that not only did you make a great video on them, but you also made me interested in this. the research on the old package designs was phenomenal. I always love finding these old, forgotten designs and how much care was put into them. It's something I feel is done less creatively these days.thank you, this was a great video

[@musictomyshears]

Super high quality video, well done! I think a good way to test the various feed powders' effects is to test two aquariums with similar conditions and sea monkeys and feed one the test food and the other standard food - many times at the end you shrugged your shoulders and said you couldn't be sure, so if you ever revisit this topic you could draw better conclusions.

[@kevo-o-o]

I'm so glad I randomly found this channel. You make incredibly entertaining videos and your sense of humor is fantastic.

[@pico-cosmos]

:D thanks for supporting the channel!

[@kevo-o-o]

@pico-cosmos No need to thank me. Thank you for making such great videos!

[@pandasbabydreams]

You know what? At this point, all of these Brine shrimp companies should just have a QR code that leads straight to your KZbin channel and to all companies should just have a QR code that leads straight to your KZbin channel, lol. I have always been floored by how much work you put in to all of these videos. And you are extremely thorough, like ridiculously thorough in your explanations of things. It is very much appreciated and I know you being a photographer definitely helps, lol. This video was very well done. One thing I was not expecting but I am so happy you have have included in your video, is the close up microscope view of the sea monkey that has passed away. So interesting seeing all the little microorganisms woring on it. Your attention to detail with everything you do is so much appreciated and I have enjoyed watching since the beginning! Youre awesome!

[@PossumMedic]

I remember playing in the Great Salt Lake as a kid trying to catch all the different coloured brine shrimp! We also raised Sea Monkeys as kids. I'd buy one of those shirts! Thanks for the vid! :D

[@ninjamonkey2321]

I have never had nore been into sea monkeys. I collect different kinds of orchids and have some plants. I stumbled onto this channel by pure chance. I sat through the entire video completly enthralled and full concentration. The passion you have for these little creatures is what im most taken by. We all have different hobbies and intrests that we pursue. If we take ours with even half the dedication you show we'll all be masters at our own craft. Incredibly well done sir.

[@reflex7438]

Thanks for putting all this information together.. I have one of those old Red packets of the Super Food! It is cool to see what is in all those. It was such a fun time being a kid and getting all those in the mail. Like you mentioned even if it was just to encourage imagination and wonder.. it is fun. Thanks again for taking the time to do a deep dive on this, really enjoyed it! :)

[@pico-cosmos]

Ooo nice 🤩 I really like that variant! Hope you’re keeping it in good condition 😁

[@Corleone1891]

I had no idea I cared this much about Sea Monkeys. But I'll be damned, 45 minutes later, I'm entertained, informed, and ready to buy my first Sea Monkey kit! Cheers!

[@tobydun]

This production quality and your presentation aura are both absolutely phenomenal my bro. I was hooked within the first 10 seconds. Chur !

[@pico-cosmos]

🤙

[@itsamiamadio]

I previously had absolutely zero knowledge on or even interest in sea monkeys. Why I clicked on this video I don’t know. But I watched and enjoyed it all?

[@lolina112]

my sea monkeys are still thriving after 2 yrs. at one point i thought my sea monkeys were dead and i was going to clean the tank and start over. but guess what they came back to life idk how but that’s very cool. i love these vids! thanks for informing me on sea monkeys !

[@pico-cosmos]

:O 2 years is damn impressive! You must be doing something right :)

[@blessedbeauty2293]

- 19:29 The *color* was a problem with their printer. It wasn't purposely done. *I doubt you'll see this!* 😊😅

[@audieswatchingthis]

KZbin suggested your video to me today. So glad they did. Loved the video and subscribed! Can't wait to watch your other content ❤

[@potassiumfeldspar]

Fantastic video! Loved learning about the different packets. Thank you for your hard work in making a 46 minute(!!) video.

[@zap_collection6511]

I bought 5 lbs of these cysts from Amazon a decade ago for like $18. Used to feed these to my smaller fish. I wonder what the purifier is. I had hundreds of these things on the counter at any given time. 2-3 drops of purifier in the water and it's instantly purified. Then add 3% sea salt by volume. Then the eggs. Setup only takes 2 minutes

[@amdza]

I haven't so much as thought of sea monkeys since I was a kid, and yet this was riveting.

[@taylorscheerer5825]

I loved this video! The care you put into your videos is so clear. Time to learn more!

[@caffienatedtactician]

Supporting your theory about the sea monkey dessert being some sort of innuendo... check out it's item mumber 😂

[@nicksypniewski4487]

This video is actually so good! As somebody who was always intrigued by these extra packets with little info online, thank you so much for making this video!

[@pico-cosmos]

I hope it helped to answer some of your childhood curiosity :) I’ve been wondering about these packets for yeeeears

[@spectralan0maly]

was a little intimidated by the video length but absolutely loved it. it really found a sweet spot between talking about the history and showing the critters. have you ever tried hatching triops? ive seen some kits around online and am absolutely charmed by the little dudes.

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks :) I haven’t tried Triops yet but will definitely give them a go at some point

[@slashbat2375]

I have never had sea monkeys. I don't know if they were ever sold in my country. I have no personal connection or nostalgia to these lil brine shrimps. Yet, I have watched this video twice. And many more of your videos. The passion you have for your interest + your accent is just so relaxing.

[@kathrynmarks9419]

KZbin recommended this to me today and I love it. I had totally forgotten about sea monkeys. I might order a kit for my preschool classroom.

[@pico-cosmos]

They’re definitely a great learning tool 🦐

[@misslayer999]

I have no interest in sea monkeys, I've never even had any(I'm a mini brands and Star Wars collector)Yet here I am watching this for some weird reason. I guess it just makes me kind of happy that people enjoy these and like collecting them. Yay for you guys!

[@Gettingrareofficial]

You definitely need to collab with the sea monkey company ❤

[@pico-cosmos]

Getting Tod’s help on these videos is probably the closest I’ll get to collaborating with them. He honestly knows more about the brand than anybody else

[@justicierodelaliga]

You say that now see how, instantly, he bretrays us all and decides to become a fan of Aqua Dragons. ...probably thinks those are "cooler".

[@TodMachin]

John’s great to collaborate with. I answer questions and fill in any information and images he needs, then lay on the couch while he does all the work. The hardest thing for me is waiting for the movie to premiere on my iPhone. This video was long enough that it required an intermission for a bathroom break and a stop at the concession stand - my fridge. It was also long enough that it could have included coming attraction trailers at the beginning.

[@chicofunbuns]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I used all of these packets when I was a kid and I distinctly remember the banana treat being yellow. …I grow brine shrimp for my aquarium fish now (not from Transcience) and I suspect their Red Magic packet contained beetroot powder because I fed it to mine and got the same effect. They turn pink.

[@Drennababy]

WOW we got a long form video from picocosmos AND a ton of fun info on the retro sea monkey merch?!? What a treat!! ❤

[@quinnwheeler5658]

Thanks!

[@pico-cosmos]

🙌 appreciate the super thanks! I hardly ever get these so it means a lot :D

[@TinkiePink]

Noooo not the "banana treat"💀😭 loved this video! It was really cool and neat to learn all of this!!❤ i really loved all the tanks too!! Super cool!

[@pico-cosmos]

Yeah I’m glad I got to show a bunch of the tanks in this one! I’m thinking about starting a series where I set up every tank at the same time and periodically check in on their progress

[@TinkiePink]

@@pico-cosmos that is a great idea, I would absolutely love that!

[@jtodd0221]

Never in a million years did I think I'd watch a 45 minute video about sea monkeys in 2024, but here we are.

[@NickMate]

For ghe life of me, i havent been able to order any of these packets into NZ. So cool to see them all together in detail ❤️

[@pico-cosmos]

It seems that none of them are currently available which is a real shame. I really hope those reformulations pull through so we can order them again soon

[@ThKiwi]

This was fantastic!! I’m so glad to see you again!

[@inconsequentialfluff]

Incredibly well edited video, so very economical while also having a lot of detail (the lineup of shirts with colors matching their packets)! I haven’t left a comment before, but I think your videos have introduced such a classic hobby to a new generation, it definitely did for me :) (3 week old ocean volcano tank)

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks for the comment :)) and nice choice on the Ocean Volcano 👌 definitely the best tank for beginners

[@YouDontGnomeMe]

Absolutely wonderful long form video, John! The sea diamond reveal made me gasp!

[@bailie85db]

Absolutely love this upload. I remember when I got my first SeaMonkey tank from Toy master in northern Ireland back in the late 90s it came with a very thick instruction book, at the back of that book it had all these packets and all the extra tanks,race tracks and aqua leash's you could order. I never did order any of them because it was more set up for the States (America) my dad said they would never come.

[@pico-cosmos]

Yeah I remember have a similar experience as a kid! It’s probably why I enjoy finally getting my hands on this stuff these days 😆

[@bailie85db]

In the same way this is why I love watching your content. The red tank you showed at the start looked just like the original tank I had in the red colour. I actually have a red sea monkey tank from the early 00's currently set up with the aqua dragons pouches, set it up with my son 3 weeks ago to relive my youth with him. Keep up the good work 👍

[@MsCyberNewt]

I subscribed because I LOVE your tardigrade model in the background!!!!

[@kristalburns3490]

Yes the packages as tshirts! I have always thought they would be so cool as tshirts.