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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want seamonkeys in my living room?

81 replies

Fluppys · 04/10/2025 19:06

DH had seamonkeys as a teen.
Recently he got a little set and grew them. Great.
But then his autism kicked in and they became his new fixation and now we have 4 of the small plastic tank sets and two 20 litre tanks in my living room complete with lights, air pumps etc.

Its not like having fish, you can't even see them!

They eat algae so the tanks look filthy and to top it off they are placed on my late grandmothers sidetable as there is genuinely no where else for them to go in here!

Im worried about the side table getting damaged and that is where I usually put my halloween bits and my nativity/decorations at Christmas.

Theres no other room they could go bar out bedroom and i think that would be even worse.

Obviously I can't ask him to pour them away but, omg, i hate them!!

OP posts:
Eenameenadeeka · 04/10/2025 20:20

Id object to them being on nans side table because it sounds like it's special to you, but it's also his living room so I think he should be able to have some in there. Needs to be a compromise I think.

helpfulperson · 04/10/2025 20:23

Perhaps he doesn't want a sitting room full of Autumn and Christmas Decorations. You both want different things so you need to talk about it and reach a compromise. I would suggest no tanks on a precious, easily damaged by water, tables is a good idea so that could be reserved for dry decorations. Tanks need to be somewhere they won't cause damage.

Fish tanks do have a habit of breeding if you aren't careful. I live alone and at one point ended up with 5 because of rescuing non compatible fish and I've had to be really strict with myself to keep that at three. (and I'm reading this thinking maybe I could breed brine shrimp to feed my other tanks)

Goinggreymammy · 04/10/2025 20:46

This is really an awful thing to say but.....
If by accident ordinary tap water went into one of those thanks the sea monkeys would die off. That would be one less.
Sorry.
Im not saying to do that.
But that's possibly the reason also why the tanks can't be merged. They are very sensitive to their environment i think ?

ChocolateFudgeCakes · 04/10/2025 20:56

This won't be of any help to you op, but you've just reminded me, in the very early 2000's I had a necklace with a sort of small screw top bottle on it so I could wear my sea monkeys around my neck. Grim.

Original poster
Fluppys · 04/10/2025 22:44

Tagyoureit · 04/10/2025 20:14

There's been a lot of weird threads on here recently so I kinda think this is a load of bull but then why lie about sea monkeys?

However, i still cant believe someone would be this invested in sea monkeys

🤨

OP posts:
Original poster
Fluppys · 04/10/2025 22:45

helpfulperson · 04/10/2025 20:23

Perhaps he doesn't want a sitting room full of Autumn and Christmas Decorations. You both want different things so you need to talk about it and reach a compromise. I would suggest no tanks on a precious, easily damaged by water, tables is a good idea so that could be reserved for dry decorations. Tanks need to be somewhere they won't cause damage.

Fish tanks do have a habit of breeding if you aren't careful. I live alone and at one point ended up with 5 because of rescuing non compatible fish and I've had to be really strict with myself to keep that at three. (and I'm reading this thinking maybe I could breed brine shrimp to feed my other tanks)

He absolutely loves Christmas and Halloween, he buys more decorations than me!

OP posts:
Original poster
Fluppys · 04/10/2025 22:45

ChocolateFudgeCakes · 04/10/2025 20:56

This won't be of any help to you op, but you've just reminded me, in the very early 2000's I had a necklace with a sort of small screw top bottle on it so I could wear my sea monkeys around my neck. Grim.

Yea they had watches too so you could take them for a walk 🥴

OP posts:
Original poster
Fluppys · 04/10/2025 22:46

Eenameenadeeka · 04/10/2025 20:20

Id object to them being on nans side table because it sounds like it's special to you, but it's also his living room so I think he should be able to have some in there. Needs to be a compromise I think.

I think the comprise was him have 4 small tanks of them with no pushback. The huge tanks are the annoyance.

OP posts:
User5306921 · 04/10/2025 22:52

One of my DC had these.....they died in direct sunlight.

Two large tanks of filthy water - I mean you could 'clean' them with boiling water and salt.......

I'd insist the tank was taken off the table you like whatever happens.

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/10/2025 23:02

Mini blondes got some at Xmas. Amazingly still going. It’s weird as we had one left maybe 2/3w ago and now have 4

how the hell can the single one have managed to impregnate herself

I couldn’t deal with large tank but fine to have the mini one that’s maybe 15x10cm that came with the kit

I didn’t expect them to still be alive 10mths later

MeganM3 · 04/10/2025 23:08

A small tank might be ok but this sounds horrible. Do you have a utility room or a shed?! Could they be relocated? Even to a hallway. I just would not want this in my main family living space. Plus they stink

Binglebong · 04/10/2025 23:09

Ok, can we stop with the animal cruelty of telling her to pour bleach or boiling water in?! Seriously...

OP you have my sympathy. I agree with the tanks only on non vulnerable surfaces. But you do need to have a discussion about cutting down to a max of one tank (or whatever seems appropriate)and about if a decision will affect your partner then you have to discuss it with them first.

GameofPhones · 04/10/2025 23:15

I thought the whole point of them was that you can keep them in very small tanks. Tell him he's doing it wrong.

Jellybean23 · 04/10/2025 23:21

What benefit does he derive in having more than one tank of them? Bicarb dissolves quickly and might see them off. He might get discouraged and lose interest if they keep dying.

MrsSkylerWhite · 04/10/2025 23:23

Tagyoureit · 04/10/2025 19:36

20 litre tank with air pumps for sea monkeys?
Really??

A 20 litre tank is very small.

MrsSkylerWhite · 04/10/2025 23:23

Jellybean23 · 04/10/2025 23:21

What benefit does he derive in having more than one tank of them? Bicarb dissolves quickly and might see them off. He might get discouraged and lose interest if they keep dying.

See them off? How horrible.

Dresdan · 04/10/2025 23:25

Not addressing the actual problem but get some safety glass cut to size to protect the table.

Abominableday · 04/10/2025 23:38

Goinggreymammy · 04/10/2025 20:46

This is really an awful thing to say but.....
If by accident ordinary tap water went into one of those thanks the sea monkeys would die off. That would be one less.
Sorry.
Im not saying to do that.
But that's possibly the reason also why the tanks can't be merged. They are very sensitive to their environment i think ?

In my experience nothing kills them. I had to keep looking after ours long after dc lost all interest.

youalright · 04/10/2025 23:52

Abominableday · 04/10/2025 20:16

They breed all the time so you have them forever, basically.
Unless someone knocks over the tank.

Show quote history

Oh ignore my terrible idea then

canchewcashew · 04/10/2025 23:53

I think you have to assert your right to a compromise. He can have some of the seamonkeys, but if there's not room except on your family heirloom table, that one tank has to go. Otherwise, I'd think about looking into some untraceable way to kill them. (Someone will be along to tell me I'm evil any moment now.)

Edit to add that I see that suggestion has already been made and, yes, deemed evil. 😂

rufusshortcake · 04/10/2025 23:56

Is there no where he can keep them in his own space? Does he have an office? I would have to draw the line here LTB. Xxx

Abominableday · 05/10/2025 00:28

OP I think on all pet threads it's obligatory to provide a photo

TwinklyNight · 05/10/2025 07:48

It is both your homes, and you are more than fair about this. Tell him to buy a special table for them, or at least one table/tray so you can get your grandmothers table back to regular use. (Not tanks)

AhBiscuits · 05/10/2025 07:54

Put up a shelf that they can all go on.
DH complains about my pet snail. He causes no trouble at all and it's my home too, I'm allowed to own things.
He has all manner of crap that I don't complain about (out loud).

NotThisBollocksAgain · 05/10/2025 08:09

Accidentally kill the seamonkeys then take your husband to get a manageable number of fancy goldfish for one of the tanks and hopefully they will be his new special interest!
Ps, I am not normally for the murder of critters but seamonkeys are literally bred to feed other fish.