Perfect Pets

I looooooove my perfect pets-​shrimps! I bought them on 5÷5÷15 (see other Honolulu reviews before this) and it is now 6÷7÷2015, a few of them molted, so that’s good news because they are growing! I bought a container of 10 and then 2 snails and took them with me on my flight cause they’re fragile!
Eh, it was legit for me to go thru HNL TSA cause I dumped out half the liquid and it was under 3oz…
I moved the shrimps to a cute Hello Kitty betta tank I found at LB Walmart but it’s the best of both worlds. They are in their brackish water but the tank has a lid and has some ventilation, which I think is how these shrimps should live?
They also seem fine with the sand, cause it’s like a natural habitat, right? So far so good and I’ll post some pics of one of the shrimps that recently molted. He is the largest of the family and his exoskeleton was stuck hanging onto one of the branches.
I feed them every few weeks with Sun Chlorella crushed granules because it’s pure green algae. These guys eat em up like no tomorrow and then they turn super red.
Everybody’s happy and I even added the two other shrimp I bought last summer ($ 4.95 container)
They are one big happy family!

PERFECT PETS…
Perfect for…
The science geek, Unilocalers that meet for monthly board games, awkward teens, weirdos that love shrimp & ants, Val Y. and other curious cats, tomboys, dudes that need instant companionship, miniature collectors, oh and of course, the occasional above-​average Mary!
Makes «PERFECT» sense to me, right?
The most surprising thing about PERFECT PETS is that they’ve been around for at least 10 – 15 years, yet there are no reviews or info on this secret society!
The second most surprising thing is I actually beat Vince B. from discovering this new «old» business! I mean every business I write a review within Shirokiya walls, yup you got it, Vince B. was there! It’s all good, just odd we haven’t bumped into each at this place! Maybe he’s just not that into shrimp! Well, maybe to eat, but not to look at… Vince?
So, what’s the deal here?
PERFECT PETS does NOT sell furry critters, birds, reptiles or amphibians, fish or anything live bigger than a pinhead! So, remove all thoughts of warm, cuddly animals here!
However…
PERFECT PETS does sell live red miniature shrimp aka «Opae-​Ula» Hawaiian shrimp, a unique creature indigenous only to some parts of Hawai’i, mainly on the Big Island of Hawai’i! This wonderful fresh water shrimp thrives near lava rock and anywhere that freshwater might be constant.
These shrimp are sold in cute «mini worlds», basically decorated mini glass or acrylic aquariums filled with distilled water, sealed, and each with a colony of these little guys, some just a few and others a dozen or so! Of course, the larger colonies and the more elaborate displays are the pricier ones! Yup, Makes «PERFECT» sense!
PERFECT PETS, located on the 1^st floor in Shirokiya at Ala Moana, is one of the few places licensed to sell these guys, as far as I know. Since each guy is like bordering a millimeter in size… I’m certain it’s not super rare and probably easily outnumbers the Hawai’i human population! It’s just so fascinating that you can only see these tiny crustaceans in the wild here!
SOME «OPAE-​ULA» FACTS:
–Prices range from about $ 5 for a sample size one in acrylic cube to the more fancier glass displays fetching over $ 50!
–You can also purchase a small bottle of distilled water since the water evaporates like an inch per year, but I’m sure the same distilled water can be purchased elsewhere.
–You may legally bring these guys to other states, and I think, other countries too, but it’s noted that it must be packed super well and in the luggage — 3 ounces max! No worries on drug smuggling charges!
–It’s nice to know that «Opae-​Ula» will not shed hair, have fleas, get a cold, bark, bite, scratch, be in «heat», beg for food! Nope!
–The BEST part about «Opae-​Ula» is that it’s completely maintenance-​free! So, the less touching, the better! Each «mini world» is self sufficient and because the shrimp feeds on algae… Well no feeding needed! Hence the name, PERFECT PETS! How cool is that?! «PERFECTO!»
Ok, I do admit I had a «mini world», purchased here about 10 years ago, but back then I don’t recall a store name! In fact, I first came here for Bonsai Trees, not shrimp! Now they only sell shrimp! I also admit I shamefully know the owner, yet ironically she’s NOT a nerd!
Sadly, my «mini world» lasted 6 months tops… Algae took it over and next thing I knew the shrimp weren’t moving! Awww so sad!
So, if I ever do decide to give it a go again, I’ll make sure it’s out of direct sunshine… Lesson learned!
But I’m grown up now, so that’s unlikely, well I think I am… Shhh.
FACT: NO THESE ARE NOT SEA MONKEYS!
NERD FACT: SEA MONKEYS ARE PRICIER BRINE SHRIMP! JUST SAYIN’
OBVIOUS FACT: WAY COOLER THAN A «CHIA» PET!
LIVE ALOHA…
Unilocal REVIEW #270