Sea Monkeys and Other Pet Fads

The Great Sea Monkey Letdown (And Why I Did It Again Anyway)

When I was a kid, the back of every comic book was a gold mine of possibilities. X-ray glasses, invisible ink, trick gum that turned your friend’s mouth blue—but nothing, nothing was as incredible as Sea Monkeys.

The ad made big promises. A tiny undersea kingdom, ruled by smiling, crown-wearing creatures that would hatch from magic dust and become loyal aquatic companions. I imagined them waving at me, swimming in unison like a synchronized ballet of tiny mermaids.

So, I saved up. I mailed off my money. And when that little packet of powdered dreams arrived, I was ready.

And then… disappointment.

The “sea monkeys” weren’t monkeys. They weren’t even sea creatures of mystery and wonder. They were… brine shrimp. Tiny, twitching specks in water. No crowns. No personalities. Just floating specs of dashed childhood dreams.

I should’ve learned my lesson.

But years later, my own kids brought home a Weekly Reader fundraiser flyer, and there they were again—Sea Monkeys. The same impossible promises. The same glamorous illustration of royal aquatic nobility.

And for reasons I still don’t fully understand, I bought them again. Maybe it was nostalgia. Maybe it was optimism. Maybe I just wanted my kids to experience the same hope, the same wonder… and yes, the same disappointment—because that, too, is part of growing up.

So, we set up the tiny plastic tank. We poured in the powder. And just like before, tiny specks floated to life. And just like before, they weren’t smiling, crown-wearing aquatic people.

But this time, I saw the magic for what it really was. Not in what they were, but in the belief they inspired. Because sometimes, the best part of a thing isn’t what it turns out to be—but what it lets you imagine along the way.

I lived in the country where my 2nd bathroom was an outhouse. So the sea monkeys went to the septic tank and not the sewer.

Here are 30 pet trends where animals were abandoned, flushed, or released into the wild after they got too big, too hard to care for, or expensive:

🐠🐢 Small Pets That Became Big Problems

1️⃣ Goldfish – Flushed or released into lakes, where they grow huge and invasive.
2️⃣ Red-Eared Slider Turtles – Cute as babies, but often dumped in ponds when they grow large and aggressive.
3️⃣ Koi Fish – Released into lakes when they outgrow backyard ponds.
4️⃣ Plecostomus (Algae Eaters) – Dumped in rivers when they get too big, disrupting ecosystems.
5️⃣ Axolotls – Released in the wild after outgrowing tanks, but they can't survive in non-native waters.
6️⃣ Pacus (Giant Piranha Cousins) – Cute little fish turn into huge, tank-busting monsters and are often dumped.
7️⃣ Snakehead Fish – A predatory species released in U.S. waters after outgrowing tanks, becoming highly invasive.
8️⃣ Caiman (Small Alligator-Like Reptile) – Bought as exotic pets, then dumped in lakes when they become unmanageable.
9️⃣ Giant Gourami – Sold as small aquarium fish, later released in ponds when they grow too big for tanks.
🔟 Arowanas – Highly prized, but when they grow to 3 feet long, they often get released into local waters.

🐍🦎 Reptiles That Were Abandoned

1️⃣1️⃣ Green Iguanas – Released into the wild when they become 3-5 feet long and aggressive.
1️⃣2️⃣ Burmese Pythons – A Florida Everglades nightmare—dumped when too big, now an invasive species.
1️⃣3️⃣ Monitor Lizards – Bought as cool pets, but people release them when they realize they’re mini dinosaurs.
1️⃣4️⃣ Ball Pythons – Dumped when people realize they live 20+ years and need large enclosures.
1️⃣5️⃣ Red-Tailed Boas – Another snake often released when it reaches 6-10 feet.
1️⃣6️⃣ Chameleons – Hard to care for, and many are set free when owners give up.
1️⃣7️⃣ Tegus – Once a trendy pet, they now roam Florida due to mass releases.
1️⃣8️⃣ Alligators – The classic "baby gator in the sewer" legend often comes from real releases.
1️⃣9️⃣ Sulcata Tortoises – Sold as adorable babies, then released when they reach 100+ pounds!
2️⃣0️⃣ Green Anoles – Often let loose when they breed uncontrollably in captivity.

🐦🐇 Furry & Feathered Pets That Were Set Loose

2️⃣1️⃣ Parrots & Macaws – Released when owners can't handle their lifelong (50+ years) needs.
2️⃣2️⃣ Peacocks – Dumped in the wild when their noise & aggression become too much.
2️⃣3️⃣ Domestic Rabbits – A big issue after Easter, when people abandon them in parks.
2️⃣4️⃣ Sugar Gliders – Released when owners realize they require lots of care and socialization.
2️⃣5️⃣ Mynah Birds – Released when people get tired of their loud talking and squawking.
2️⃣6️⃣ Lovebirds – Set free when they breed out of control in captivity.
2️⃣7️⃣ Quaker Parrots – A major issue in some cities, where released pets form wild flocks.
2️⃣8️⃣ Flemish Giant Rabbits – People buy them as cute, oversized bunnies and then release them when they get too big to handle.
2️⃣9️⃣ Pet Rats & Hamsters – Dumped when people don’t want to deal with their care or breeding issues.
3️⃣0️⃣ Pot-Bellied Pigs – Bought as "mini pigs" but released when they grow to 150+ pounds.

🚨 Why This Happens & The Consequences

🔹 Impulse buys – Many of these pets are marketed as small, low-maintenance, but they grow big, costly, and challenging.
🔹 Misinformation – Owners assume releasing them is "humane" when it's actually cruel and destructive.
🔹 Environmental disaster – Many of these animals become invasive species, harming native wildlife.

🛑 What to Do Instead of Releasing a Pet?

✔️ Rehome responsibly – Look for reptile rescues, exotic pet sanctuaries, or adoption networks.
✔️ Contact animal shelters – Many accept fish, birds, and reptiles rather than having them dumped.
✔️ Research BEFORE buying – Never get a pet without knowing how big it gets, how long it lives, and how much care it needs.