Shocking News: My Sea-Monkeys Have Escaped!

As some of you already know, I've been raising Sea-Monkeys as part of my research for illustrating SEA-MONKEY AND BOB by Aaron Reynolds (Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2015).

Well, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. I went upstairs this afternoon to find an empty aquarium and a note (see photo). My Sea-Monkeys have left me for greener pastures (bluer waters?). Ah, how I will miss my wee watery denizens: Micky, Peter, Nyarlathotep, Alan, Mary Margaret, Bilbo, Sojourner, Boris, Pochyk, Pippa, Sea Monkey Killing Unit #1, Tarquin, Brunhilda, Delphine, Monkey Doo, Brooke and Russell.

I do admit to a brief moment of suspicion that SMKU#1 forged the letter to cover up a heinous crime ... but then I remembered his poor penmanship. He could never have written this note.

Anyway, it looks as if my friend Annie Walker is off the hook -- she had originally promised to bake a cake for every Sea-Monkey who survived a full year. But now that they've fled, I have no way of knowing. I'd like to think my tiny briny friends will find their way to lovely temperate waters where they will frolic in crowns and sing Sea-Monkey songs as they wave their miniature tridents in time to the beat.

Debbie's Sea-Monkeys are TWO MONTHS OLD!

My UK friend Annie Walker has promised to bake a birthday cake for every Sea-Monkey who survives a full year.

At this point, the surviving Sea-Monkeys are Micky, Peter, Nyarlathotep, Alan, Mary Margaret, Bilbo, Sojourner, Boris, Pochyk, Pippa, Sea Monkey Killing Unit #1, Tarquin, Brunhilda, Delphine, Monkey Doo and Russell.

In the video I just took, you'll notice one of the larger Sea-Monkeys swimming in a jerky motion near the surface; this is Pippa. As far as I can tell from my research, Pippa is giving birth RIGHT NOW!! One of the new Sea-Monkey babies will be named Brooke, courtesy Cheryl Johnson.

Day 28: Sea-Monkey Project

Still no sign of Monkey C, and now Michael and Edwina have disappeared as well. Russell has ceased swimming in circles, but I'm still worried about him because he hasn't made any friends yet. He follows Boris around, but the latter just ignores the smaller Sea-Monkey. Poor Boris. 

As you can tell from the above video, some of the Sea-Monkeys have gotten....er...quite close. Monkey Doo and Brunhilda have hooked up, as have Pippa and Nyarlathotep. I'm excited about potential impending Sea-Monkey babies!

Remaining Sea-Monkeys: Micky, Davy, Peter, Nyarlathotep, Alan, Mary Margaret, Bilbo, Sojourner, Boris, Hortense, Pochyk, Pippa, Sea Monkey Killing Unit #1, Tarquin, Brunhilda, Brianna, Delphine, Joan, Monkey Doo and Russell.

Day 17: Sea-Monkey Project

The SEA-MONKEY PROJECT (research for illustrating Sea-Monkey and Bob picture book, which comes out from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers in Fall 2015, author Aaron Reynolds):

There appears to be a new addition to my Sea-Monkey family; I suspect one of the eggs hatched late. I've christened him Russell, which was one of Annie Walker's suggestions. Russell seems to be a bit wonky and does nothing but swim around in tight circles. If you look closely (he's much smaller than the others), you can see him in the video above, doing his spin thing just above the arch.

I regret to report that Monkey C has disappeared. I'm not exactly sure what happened. Perhaps he choked on a Sea-Monkey Pellet. perhaps Sea Monkey Killing Unit #1 lived up to his name. Monkey Doo, of course, is inconsolable. The others (particularly Brunhilda, who seems to be especially nurturing of her siblings) are doing their best to offer comfort.

Anyway, the Sea-Monkeys now remaining are: Micky, Davy, Peter, Michael, Nyarlathotep, Alan, Mary Margaret, Bilbo, Sojourner, Boris, Hortense, Pochyk, Pippa, Sea Monkey Killing Unit #1 (SMKU1 for short, I think), Tarquin, Brunhilda, Edwina, Brianna, Delphine, Joan, Monkey Doo and Russell.

No signs of little crowns or smiles yet.

For an index of other blog entries, please see my Sea-Monkey and Bob blog archives. Also: Sea-Monkey and Bob Facebook Page.

Day 8: Sea-Monkey College Diploma, candid family shot of Pochyk, Alan, Bilbo, SMKU #1 and Nyarlathotep

Some of you said you were confused about which Sea-Monkeys were which in my previous video, so I've provided the helpful photo above to identify a few of them. I did try several times to corral them all into one place for a family photo, but the wee beasties seemed to delight in pretending to cooperate, then suddenly dashing in all directions just as I was about to snap the photo.

Here's a short video:

Debbie's Sea-Monkey Project, Day 8 from Debbie Ohi on Vimeo.

Their personalities are emerging now, which makes it easier to differentiate between them. Bilbo's a bit of a loner, for example, while SMKU #1 has become somewhat of a bully in the aquarium. Nyarlathotep tends to prefer lurking in shadows in the depths, which is why I was so pleased to have managed to catch this elusive Sea-Monkey in the photo above. Thanks again to Taunya Gren, John Chew, Annie Walker, Rachel Gay, June King, Noah Chinn, Andy Beaton, Paul Willett and Elizabeth Law for name suggestions over on the Sea-Monkey and Bob Facebook Page.

I've been going through some of the paperwork that came in the kit, and found this:

Wow! You can get a COLLEGE DEGREE AND DIPLOMA inscribed with YOUR NAME and inscribed in GOLD and BLUE!! Who needs to spend all that money going to college in real life when you can get one for just $16? Though I have to wonder how impressed an employer would be from The Crustracean College, even if it did have a raised Official Seal and Ribbons.

Sadly, this is only being offered in the USA.

For an index of other blog entries, please see my Sea-Monkey and Bob blog archives. Also: Sea-Monkey and Bob Facebook Page.