Attention toward the song grew, and it was eventually illegally uploaded to the internet, unknown to the Gruttmanns or Universal Music Group at the time, with the aforementioned hook added in.

[1] Around this time, the song received its first airplay exposure when a radio station in Cologne, Germany, added the track to its playlists.

[2] The Gruttmanns were on a family holiday during these events, and after returning home in August 2004, the editorial team for Die Sendung mit der Maus told them of the news.

Upon checking the internet, they noticed the song being discussed on many message boards, discovered various remixes of "Schnappi" ranging from heavy metal to techno, and saw a video for Wacken Open Air in which rock fans were singing the track.

Soon, the managing director of Bavaria Media, Rolf Moser, decided to handle the recording's licensing and promotional agreements, and it was officially released as a single in Germany on Joy's ninth birthday, 6 December 2004.

[9] In Walloon Belgium, the song was covered in French by Charlotte under the title "Schnappi, le petit crocodile", and peaked at number 23.