
Many 70’s Kids Wanted this Aquatic Pet
Your thoughts likely drift to baseball cards and bikes as childhood passions in Illinois while you might also visualize hot summer days consuming popsicles. But for many kids growing up in the Midwest, there was one peculiar creature that captured their imaginations: Sea Monkeys. Those “instant pets” are featured in comic book advertisements. I remember begging my parents to buy me some Sea Monkeys after reading the advertisement for them over 100 times. Thank you, Mom & Dad, for getting them for me, even if it was done just shut me up.
The Comic Book Trap
As you pored over comics like Spider-Man or Archie during the 70s or 80s in Illinois you probably encountered the famous Sea Monkey advertisement. A vibrant cartoon depicted an underwater paradise inhabited by cheerful humanoid beings who greeted viewers with smiles and waves. The price was only a few dollars so it seemed like an incredible bargain.
Children across Rockford often pleaded with their parents to send money orders because credit cards remained a distant luxury for most families. Weeks later, they’d finally receive their tiny package of potential greatness: After waiting for weeks their tiny package arrived with a packet of powder and mysterious instructions. This turned out to be almost the underwater empire they had imagined.
Not Monkeys, Not from the Sea
Let’s get one thing straight: Sea Monkeys are neither aquatic creatures nor monkeys by nature. These creatures are brine shrimp that scientists have designed to amaze kids while slightly disappointing grown-ups. Illinois kids poured the sea monkey powder into tap water and watched in anticipation as the “sea monkeys” hatched from their dormant eggs.
Spoiler alert: The reality was that they didn’t resemble the cartoon depiction at all. The process of watching these squiggly minuscule creatures spring to life retained an enchanting sense of wonder. The idea of owning a pet without worrying about their mom demanding someone to clean up after them was what Sea Monkeys represented for some kids.

The Midwest Appeal
What drove Illinois children to develop a deep fixation with Sea Monkeys? It’s simple. The Midwest transforms small experiences into grand adventures. Endless cornfields and humid afternoons throughout your summers make a tank of brine shrimp feel like having your personal ocean.
Sea Monkeys served more than just a form of companionship because they required engagement and care. Rockford kids gave their Sea Monkeys names while they discussed their intelligence and debated the possibility of training them despite knowing training wasn’t possible.
GROOVY LUNCHES WE ATE IN SCHOOL BACK IN THE 70S!
A Nostalgic Legacy
While Sea Monkeys failed to establish civilizations as predicted, their presence provided entertainment through joy and curiosity along with a touch of strangeness for kids in Illinois. Who could possibly resist the appeal of aquatic whimsy during their youth?