10 hours ago
Mega 90s fad appears on Kmart shelves: 'OMG I missed these so much'
Nostalgic shoppers are taking a trip down memory lane after spotting a classic children's toy at Kmart.
Sea-Monkeys are quietly making their way back into homes across Australia, proving to be the perfect gift or spontaneous purchase for curious kids and adults alike.
The retailer has been quietly selling the kits for years, but some shoppers have only recently started noticing them on shelves after stumbling across them in stores.
The novelty aquarium pets were first introduced in 1960 but they peaked in popularity during the 1990s.
Most '90s kid will remember the novelty of pouring a packet of dry powdered eggs into a tank of water, watching them hatch into tiny Sea Monkeys within days and feeding them growth food to keep them alive.
Sea-Monkeys are a hybrid breed of brine shrimp that can be kept in a small tank as a low-maintenance pet.
Customers can now relive their childhood memories with the iconic Ocean Zoo Playset, which includes a tank, feeding spoon, three sachets and instructions - all for $18.
But if you're looking to take your Sea-Monkeys to another level, shoppers can grow their pets inside a 'magic castle' or 'on Mars'.
Sea-Monkeys are quietly making their way back into homes across Australia, proving to be the perfect gift or spontaneous purchase for curious kids and adults alike
In addition to the feeding spoon, three pouches and instructions, the $22 tanks comes with a bonus water pump and a magnifying lid.
Many have given the Sea-Monkeys 4.5 out of 5 stars, with dozens saying the toys bring back fond childhood memories.
'Just as I remember as a kid,' one said.
'These are fantastic gifts for all ages. Reminds me of my childhood,' another shared.
'Perfect! Only had for a little while and they've hatched, grown and now having babies. Literally so entertaining,' one added.
'Waited for these to come in stock and was so happy when I got them. My Sea-Monkeys are thriving,' another revealed.
Many parents have purchased the toys for their own kids, with one mum saying: 'My daughter saw this on TikTok and really wanted one. Easy to set up and the monkeys grew faster than expected. Happy child, happy mum.'
'Such a cute way to introduce pets to kids. They are not easy to keep alive though. I suggest not using all the eggs in one go,' another warned.
'It's a science project for the kids. Kids are loving the job of feeding the growing Sea-Monkeys,' one added.
Sea-Monkeys are a type of brine shrimp that are naturally found in salt lakes.
The history of Sea-Monkeys stems from 1957 after Harold von Braunhut stumbled across a tank of 'overlooked' brine shrimp that were used as fish food in a pet store.
The American man saw a niche in the market for 'instant pets' that could teach children about the oddities of nature.
And so he began experimenting on how to 'preserve' and 'reanimate' them in his tiny lab, and in 1960 introduced them to the world as 'Instant Life'.
'And Sea-Monkeys indeed exhibit. How they come to life, however, is a highly guarded, patented secret interplay of osmosis, controlled pH fluctuation and chemical formulations. The "Original" formula is kept under lock and key, and still made in the USA to this day,' the website says.
Initially, the toys didn't sell at all after the brand struggled to get sellers on board.
'So Harold got the idea to place an ad for "Instant Life" inside comic books to market directly to kids,' it said.
At the time, the toys could be ordered by mail directly from the Sea-Monkey headquarters.
'Overnight, orders were flying in and the Sea-Monkeys began their long career striking the imaginations of millions of children.'
