Seamonkey facts for kids

Seamonkey can mean a few different things! It might be a tiny, amazing pet you can grow, a useful computer program, or even a fun TV show. Let's explore what each "Seamonkey" is all about!

Sea-Monkeys: Tiny Aquatic Pets

Sea-Monkeys are super small, unique creatures that you can buy and grow at home! They are actually a special type of brine shrimp (scientific name: Artemia salina). These tiny animals are famous for being sold in kits where you add them to water, and they "magically" hatch.

What Are Brine Shrimp?

Brine shrimp are small crustaceans, which means they are related to crabs and lobsters. They live in very salty water, like salt lakes and salt flats, all around the world. They are often pink or orange because of the food they eat.

The Amazing Life Cycle

Sea-Monkeys start as tiny eggs, called "cysts." These eggs are incredibly tough! They can stay dry for many years and still hatch when put into water. This is why they can be sold in packets – they are just waiting for water to come alive!

When you add the eggs to water, they hatch into tiny larvae called "nauplii." These grow quickly into adult brine shrimp. Adult Sea-Monkeys have long bodies with many feathery legs that they use to swim and filter tiny bits of food from the water. They can live for several months if cared for properly.

How Sea-Monkeys Became Pets

The idea of Sea-Monkeys as pets was created by a man named Harold von Braunhut in 1957. He figured out how to package the dried brine shrimp eggs so people could hatch them at home. He gave them the catchy name "Sea-Monkeys" because of their long tails and playful appearance, which reminded him of monkeys. He also invented special food and water purifiers to help them thrive.

Caring for Your Sea-Monkeys

Taking care of Sea-Monkeys is quite simple. You need a small tank or bowl, special water purifier, and their food. The most important thing is to keep their water clean and at a good temperature. They breathe through their legs, so gentle aeration (like stirring the water) helps them get enough oxygen. Watching them swim and grow can be a really fun and educational experience!

SeaMonkey: The Internet Suite

Another "Seamonkey" is a computer program called SeaMonkey. This is a free and open-source internet suite. Think of it as an all-in-one tool for your computer that helps you browse the internet, send emails, and even create simple web pages.

What Does SeaMonkey Do?

The SeaMonkey suite includes several important parts:

• Web Browser: This lets you visit websites, just like Chrome or Firefox.
• Email and Newsgroup Client: You can send and receive emails and read newsgroup discussions.
• HTML Editor: This is a simple tool to help you design and build your own web pages.
• IRC Chat Client: You can chat with other people online using Internet Relay Chat (IRC).

History of SeaMonkey

SeaMonkey's history goes back to the early days of the internet. It was originally based on the code from Netscape Communicator, a very popular internet suite from the 1990s. When Netscape became open-source, the Mozilla Foundation took over its development. Later, a group of volunteers decided to continue developing the all-in-one suite, and they named it SeaMonkey. It's still updated and used by many people today.

The Amazing Live Sea Monkeys: A TV Show

Finally, The Amazing Live Sea Monkeys was a short-lived American television series. It was a live-action show that aired in 1992.

What Was the Show About?

The TV show was a fantasy-comedy that imagined what would happen if Sea-Monkeys grew to human size and lived in a fishbowl in a scientist's lab. The main characters were three human-sized Sea-Monkeys who had various adventures and often caused humorous chaos. It was a fun, imaginative take on the popular pet.