Uncle Milton Aquasaurs User Manual

AGES 6 +

Prehistoric Creature Habitat

More than 350 million years ago...

Continents drifted apart, dinosaurs and thousands of other animal species evolved and went
extinct, ice ages passed, humans emerged, entire civilizations rose and fell. Yet Aquasaurs
managed to survive, endure and thrive.

Scientists have given them the long name, Triops longicaudatus (TRY-OPS
LON-GA-CAW-DA-TUS) but we call them Aquasaurs. Aquasaurs are fresh water animals that
belong to the class crustacea (CRUS-TAY-SHA). They are related to shrimps, crabs and lobsters.
Some people call them tadpole shrimp because of their similarity to frog tadpoles. They also
resemble trilobites — extinct creatures that lived more than 500 million years ago — so they
are sometimes called “living fossils.”

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Aquasaurs have existed for millions and millions of years. For comparison, we humans have
been on earth for about 2 million years. That’s a very long span of time, but it is far less than
the 350 million years that Aquasaurs have been around. How were they able to survive for so
long? The answer is in their eggs.

Aquasaurs live in small temporary ponds. They lay their eggs in the bottom silt. Whenever the
pond dries out, as during the hot summer season, the eggs can stay in a kind of “sleep mode”
or suspended animation, called diapause (DI-A-PAWS). They can remain this way for up to 20
years! They can resist extremely hot or cold temperatures as well as very dry conditions. When
rainfall returns and ponds reappear, the eggs hatch and new Aquasaurs are born, beginning
their life cycle again.

Instruction Manual

Once your Aquasaur eggs have hatched, you
will see them grow very quickly. With proper
care Aquasaurs can double their size every
day! Depending on how much food and light
they are given, your Aquasaurs can grow up to
two inches long and live 20 to 90 days.

Please read this guide carefully. Take good
care of your new pets and they will live happy,
healthy lives.

4 Place the habitat on a sturdy table or shelf,

where it won’t be accidentally bumped or
disturbed. Do not place on surface where
accidental pooling of water may cause
water damage. Do not place it in direct
sunlight or near a heating or air
conditioning vent. Once it is filled with
water, it should not be moved. Never use
insecticide, cleaning solvents, deodorizer,
paint or other chemicals near the habitat.

Setting Up the Habitat

VERY IMPORTANT! DO NOT SET UP HABITAT

WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION!

These are what you received:

• One Aquasaur habitat (tank, lid, magnifier

feeding cap, base)

• One stick-on thermometer

• One pack of Aquasaur eggs

• One pack of Aquasaur food

• One plastic stirrer

These are what you need to provide:

• Several gallon bottles of spring water

(available at your local food market)

• Sheet of paper

• Pair of scissors

• Disposable cups

1 Rinse all plastic parts in spring water.

NEVER USE TAP WATER OR SOAP, as they
are harmful to Aquasaurs.

5 Pour in room-temperature spring water to

about one inch from the rim. Do not use
water conditioner. Water temperature
should be 72˚ to 80˚ F (22˚ to 27˚ C). If
necessary, place an incandescent desk
lamp (60 watts) about ten inches from the
top in order to raise the water temperature
and to provide light. It is very important
that the water be between 72˚ and 80˚ F.

6 Open the pack of Aquasaur eggs. Do this

over a piece of paper in case any eggs spill
out. Be careful – they’re tiny! Pour
one-half of the eggs into the water. Do not
touch the eggs. Save the other half of the
eggs for another time.

7 Stir the water with the plastic stirrer. The

water might get a little cloudy, but it will
clear up.

8 You can add a little more spring water to

wash down any eggs and debris which
have clung to the sides of the habitat.

2 Remove the lid from the habitat.

3 Peel off the paper backing from the

thermometer and stick the thermometer to
the outside of the clear dry tank. Stick it on
the lower right front side of the clear tank.

9 Replace the lid onto the tank.

10 Wash your hands thoroughly with soap

and warm water.

11 In one or two days, you will begin to see

tiny Aquasaur babies swimming around.