Toy creatures that grow to 600% their size when you immerse them in water

July 31, 2006 8:47 PM

Toy creatures that grow to 600% their size when you immerse them in water. We bought a few from a street seller in New York, and they're cool. We want more, but now the seller has moved on. Where can I buy these toys, preferably online?

The ones we bought are called "Colored Growing" and come in many shapes -- reptiles, sea animals, arachnids, the Empire State Building, the State of Liberty, and many other objects. Googling for that phrase, I have found them here and here, but that's about it -- the first one in Taiwan and the second one doesn't specify which creatures you get. I would like to find a store where we can buy a bunch of them and pick exactly the creatures we want. Perhaps they are also known by a different name?

posted by gentle to shopping (13 comments total)

Oooo those are fun. Fill up your tub and drop one in if you're going out of town for a week. Trust me.
posted by shanevsevil at 9:02 PM on July 31, 2006

Here's some
posted by thirteenkiller at 9:09 PM on July 31, 2006

Oh. I guess you can't pick which ones you get there.
posted by thirteenkiller at 9:11 PM on July 31, 2006

I've seen them at science center and museum gift shops. Maybe try stores like the Discovery Channel store.
posted by chickletworks at 9:14 PM on July 31, 2006

Shanevsevil, your comment cracked me up.

OP, are you talking about the kind that come in little capsules (like the link thirteenkiller posted) or that come in their intended shape?

There are some of the latter here:
http://www.tsbkm.com/prod_detail/115
http://stewarttoys.zoovy.com/product/085761085497?meta=dealtime-085761085497
http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm?subsection=1

A google search for toys grow in water also picked up some that are listed on eBay.
posted by chickletworks at 9:21 PM on July 31, 2006

I bought a mummy one at Party City not that long ago for an out-of-season Halloween party. Check the kids party favor aisle.
posted by faunafrailty at 9:31 PM on July 31, 2006

I see them at chain craft stores from time to time.
posted by rafter at 10:25 PM on July 31, 2006

Here are a couple more choices.
posted by blackkar at 3:04 AM on August 1, 2006

Party stores have them. I can attest to seeing giant lips that grow to a ridiculous size a few days ago while browsing.

So do dollar stores, I've found.
posted by tozturk at 8:30 AM on August 1, 2006

Oriental Trading Company! Oriental Trading Company! (Hermit crabs w/ shells, and toy creatures- in BULK!)
posted by headspace at 8:51 AM on August 1, 2006

(Or just follow the link in blackkar's response. Duh. Sorry!)
posted by headspace at 8:52 AM on August 1, 2006

second what tozturk said. (every single party store i've been to have them. so-cal here, for what it's worth).
posted by mittenedsex at 7:25 PM on August 1, 2006

Excellent answers, I will be checking out these. The ones we bought grow to the size of a 1.5-liter soda bottle. Which ones will fill a bathtub?
posted by gentle at 10:42 PM on August 1, 2006