They are swimming happily (and rapidly!) through their underwater world, pausing now and then to sample the algae-flavored goodness of the bottom of the tank. Now there are at least a dozen specimens with visible black eyes, wavy villi (I'm not sure they're actually legs), and a stripe from head to tail that is probably their little digestive system. What a difference a weekend can make! When I last observed my tiny charges, they were barely revealing a hint of miniscule legs when they swam. Monday will mark another feeding and another growth-spurt opportunity. The Sea-Monkeys are all the same algae-green as their food, so I'm hoping that a little artificial coloring will jazz things up. I am still awaiting my shipment of Red Magic vitamins. Occasionally one Sea-Monkey will bump into another, but they shake if off without acknowledgement and return to their separate agendas. Each conducts the business of the day completely oblivious to the presence of all the rest. The life of a young Sea-Monkey is a solitary one. Another new development: If I'm not mistaken, the little dark-green granules that now highlight the topography of the tank floor may be Sea-Monkey poop. They dip their faces it in, sometimes having a little wallow in the muck, then trailing fragments of tank scum upward as they return to their circling. The froom at the bottom of the tank holds special appeal. Some of this behavior may be related to moulting. Often a Sea-Monkey will curl into a tight ball and somersault in place for a moment before stretching out and resuming its journey. The entire colony has been very active this week, constantly darting around the Ocean-Zoo. They still retain a collectively diaphanous quality yet have a noticeable ribbed appearance that distinguishes the individual limbs.

Their legs or fins (whichever they are) are becoming more distinct. So with their little black eyes set high on their heads like monkey ears, and their long, thin tails trailing behind, you can squint your eyes, sniff some paint thinner and envision the little beasties as swimming monkeys. The largest of my brood are now in excess of 1/4-inch long, at least half of which is tail. I think I'm starting to see where the name 'Sea-Monkey' comes from.

Seamonkey tanks