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You are here: Home / Copepods / Benefits of Live Copepods / The Mighty Copepod
buy copepods, wholesale copepods

The Mighty Copepod

by Lan

When thinking about crustaceans many creatures come to mind like shrimp or lobster. And while your mind may be wandering toward an all you can eat buffet, there is another type of crustacean that isn’t so tasty to humans, but boy do the fish love them. I speak of the mighty (and tiny) copepod.

Copepod is a blanket term to describe a subclass of the Crustacea family. There are many types of copepods and they are anywhere and everywhere there is water. Some species of marine pods are planktonic, or they drift in the currents like plankton do. Other species are benthic, or living and moving along the ocean floor like tiny little sea bugs.

The one thing all pods do have in common though is the same basic body type. Copepods are part of the crustacean family and because of this they all have exoskeletons or outer shells (though they vary widely by class). They are also very small with the largest variety measuring at 1 cm. Most copepods measure at around 1 to 2 mm. When using live pods in a saltwater aquarium, they may look like tiny bugs floating in the water or crawling on the glass.

Marine copepods feed off of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, and in turn provide a food source for larger fish such as mandarins and gobies. Knowing that ornamental saltwater fish love and live off of pods, it only makes sense that a growing number of aquarium enthusiasts are switching to providing live copepods for their fish. Live aquarium copepods provide a wonderful food source for aquarium fish. The fish don’t have any; “I need to get used to this food” down time because live copepods are what they instinctively eat. And with the advantages of modern technology any aquarium hobbyist can buy pods online and have them delivered right to their door, with the next stop in the aquarium.

So there you have it. Copepods may seem tiny and insignificant to us, but their presence is irreplaceable to our favorite fish.

[Copepods]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Theresa Smith says

    March 6, 2019 at 4:25 pm

    I recommend the copepods from Algae Barn.

    Reply
    • Noah says

      August 7, 2019 at 6:37 pm

      ?

      Reply
    • Jon Dimitri Andrianos says

      August 12, 2019 at 4:09 pm

      Same. My fish love them

      Reply
  2. theresa360 says

    March 6, 2019 at 4:26 pm

    I enjoy watching the copepods in my tank thrive. I’m happy to be able to feed my fish live food.

    Reply
  3. beck.blade says

    March 25, 2019 at 11:30 pm

    Excited for my pods just got some

    Reply
  4. Chris Hedrick says

    June 3, 2019 at 7:24 pm

    My fish love these guys

    Reply
  5. paula says

    August 7, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    addictive! gotta have them!

    Reply
    • Daryl Reid says

      August 13, 2019 at 5:55 am

      Algae Barns copepods are the best

      Reply
  6. paula says

    August 7, 2019 at 3:59 pm

    addictive to watch

    Reply
  7. jeffreyfelter says

    August 7, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    After reading this it reminded me I need some more pods.

    Reply
  8. robert vice says

    August 7, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    getting ready to dump so.e in as we speak

    Reply
  9. Anthony says

    August 7, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    Cool article!

    Reply
  10. Tony Mutti says

    August 7, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    These are so neat. I love looking in the tank, after lights out, with a flash light, and seeing all the life.

    Reply
  11. esear14 says

    August 7, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    these things are awesome

    Reply
  12. Josh hiltabiddle says

    August 7, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    Pods rock

    Reply
  13. devon says

    August 7, 2019 at 4:20 pm

    yummy

    Reply
  14. Terrence Harrison says

    August 7, 2019 at 4:29 pm

    Love algae barn!

    Reply
  15. Martin Gundel says

    August 7, 2019 at 4:52 pm

    Pods are a requirement for my gobies and health in my system.

    Reply
  16. artaa1988 says

    August 7, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    love watching these guys in my tank

    Reply
  17. Mohamed Hassaan says

    August 7, 2019 at 5:19 pm

    I enjoy watching the pods in my tank

    Reply
  18. James says

    August 7, 2019 at 5:25 pm

    reading. Can never seem to get a colony established but would love to.

    Reply
  19. Allen Fagard says

    August 7, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    Got pods

    Reply
  20. Carl Brown says

    August 7, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    The Mandarin is my favorite fish.

    Reply
  21. mikerosa1965 says

    August 7, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    I just ordered my first batch from you during your bogo sale

    Reply
  22. Andy says

    August 7, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    I can’t wait to get my pod population thriving enough for a mandarin.

    Reply
  23. Tiffanie says

    August 7, 2019 at 6:30 pm

    Love pods!!!

    Reply
    • Stefan Bladen says

      August 28, 2019 at 5:34 am

      A great snack for my fish

      Reply
  24. Nicholas Pettit says

    August 7, 2019 at 6:40 pm

    Copepods are chill

    Reply
  25. Alex says

    August 7, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    Awesome little critters!

    Reply
  26. Brandi says

    August 7, 2019 at 7:07 pm

    I love having copepods in my tank. If you turn off the lights and even cover LED’s and give you eyes about 10 minutes to adjust to the total darkness, you sill start to see some of them fluoresce. It’s really cool to see bioluminescence in your own home!

    Reply
  27. Christopher Burns says

    August 7, 2019 at 7:13 pm

    Only place i go for pods

    Reply
  28. Tara says

    August 7, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    Copepods are so cool to have in tank.

    Reply
  29. Hailey Weir says

    August 7, 2019 at 7:36 pm

    [email protected]

    Reply
  30. Sean Simkins says

    August 7, 2019 at 7:38 pm

    I can never seem to sustain a good podpulation

    Reply
  31. professorcanswanky says

    August 7, 2019 at 7:45 pm

    Amazing read

    Reply
  32. ANDREW WELSH says

    August 7, 2019 at 7:55 pm

    Have an ok population in one tank but tons in another

    Reply
  33. Ross Bennett says

    August 7, 2019 at 8:16 pm

    Def getting some on my next order

    Reply
  34. David says

    August 7, 2019 at 8:27 pm

    My fish always love to snack on copepods. Just wish I could keep up with the demand.

    Reply
  35. Doug Smith says

    August 7, 2019 at 8:47 pm

    you aint got no game unless you got pods!

    Reply
  36. darksorcerer0530 says

    August 7, 2019 at 8:55 pm

    I struggled with setting up a copepod colony at first, but now they are pretty essential for me as my mandarins love them!

    Reply
  37. Angela Revell says

    August 7, 2019 at 10:04 pm

    My mandarin is doing great

    Reply
  38. Marc Raupp says

    August 7, 2019 at 11:03 pm

    pods are the best. they clean your tank and feed your fish. whats not to love?

    Reply
  39. Juan Gonzalez says

    August 8, 2019 at 12:13 am

    Love watching my population grow!

    Reply
  40. Anthony Ferrelli says

    August 8, 2019 at 3:18 am

    Delivery coming today?

    Reply
  41. George says

    August 8, 2019 at 5:19 am

    Never enough!

    Reply
  42. Michael Kessler says

    August 8, 2019 at 7:58 am

    I love having pods in my tank

    Reply
  43. Andrew Bilodeau says

    August 8, 2019 at 8:03 am

    Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  44. Christopher says

    August 8, 2019 at 8:06 am

    Great article

    Reply
  45. Alexandra says

    August 8, 2019 at 8:43 am

    My Mandarin says he needs some of these!

    Reply
  46. Savoury Kem says

    August 8, 2019 at 10:05 am

    Whoa

    Reply
  47. Deborah Najm says

    August 8, 2019 at 10:39 am

    Our mandarin loves his copepods!

    Reply
  48. Tim Jones says

    August 8, 2019 at 12:19 pm

    My goby loves the pods

    Reply
  49. Ricardo Munoz says

    August 8, 2019 at 1:00 pm

    Love it

    Reply
  50. erik says

    August 8, 2019 at 9:01 pm

    my fish love them!

    Reply
  51. Gino says

    August 9, 2019 at 3:24 am

    Copepods Rock!

    Reply
  52. James says

    August 9, 2019 at 5:21 am

    Very mighty

    Reply
  53. garethb9 says

    August 9, 2019 at 11:03 am

    Need to add more to my set up, a refugium would help massively

    Reply
  54. Robert Paniagua says

    August 9, 2019 at 1:00 pm

    Just got my copepods

    Reply
  55. Brent Cox says

    August 9, 2019 at 1:00 pm

    Mighty they are.

    Reply
  56. Max Williquette says

    August 9, 2019 at 2:16 pm

    So many benefits to good pods, and AlgeaBarn is the best source I have found! My seahorses and mandarin love them!

    Reply
  57. Brent says

    August 9, 2019 at 2:32 pm

    who doesn’t love mandarins!

    Reply
  58. anxsar says

    August 9, 2019 at 10:19 pm

    Going to be setting up my own pod farm for my stuff.. Thanks for the information you provide, it is invaluable

    Reply
  59. Tom Giddens says

    August 10, 2019 at 6:14 am

    great product

    Reply
  60. John key says

    August 12, 2019 at 7:21 am

    I don’t think pods are emphasized enough in this hobby. I like to have a variety of different pods in my tank.

    Reply
  61. Kristoffer Hamann says

    August 12, 2019 at 3:21 pm

    Need all kinds of life in there.

    Reply
  62. danieoue says

    August 12, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    Great pods

    Reply
  63. Sean Beaver says

    August 12, 2019 at 8:56 pm

    Definitely need more pods.

    Reply
  64. Itzel says

    August 12, 2019 at 10:31 pm

    Copepods > AirPods

    Reply
  65. blk250r says

    August 12, 2019 at 11:04 pm

    ?rock on pods?

    Reply
  66. Ellen S Imbrie says

    August 13, 2019 at 4:50 am

    thanks for posting

    Reply
  67. Ellen S Imbrie says

    August 13, 2019 at 4:51 am

    thanks f

    Reply
  68. Ellen S Imbrie says

    August 13, 2019 at 4:53 am

    Love my pods

    Reply
  69. Ellen S Imbrie says

    August 13, 2019 at 4:54 am

    Love pods

    Reply
  70. Kristopher Kasarda says

    August 13, 2019 at 5:33 am

    My mandarin loves pods!

    Reply
  71. Derek says

    August 13, 2019 at 6:23 am

    One of the best parts of our tanks is watching the mandarins swim around hunting pods! Love it!

    Reply
  72. chrissyhexd says

    August 13, 2019 at 6:29 am

    Mighty indeed!

    Reply
  73. Justin says

    August 13, 2019 at 7:40 am

    Good info

    Reply
  74. Jeremy Hunsberger says

    August 13, 2019 at 10:52 am

    Sweet

    Reply
  75. Bennett Sheppard says

    August 13, 2019 at 11:05 am

    I love having Mandarins and strive to keep enough live copepods in the tank.

    Reply
  76. William Schimmel says

    August 14, 2019 at 11:27 pm

    Excited for my pods just placed an order

    Reply
  77. btack206 says

    August 18, 2019 at 3:13 pm

    We use both live and frozen copepods. One as a food source for our fish and the other to help keep the tank healthy.

    Reply
  78. Ryan M. Vaughan says

    August 19, 2019 at 4:31 pm

    Helpful

    Reply
  79. Wendy says

    August 19, 2019 at 7:04 pm

    You can trust what they tell you. (how refreshing) it’s not just a sales plug.

    Reply
  80. Branden Hess says

    August 19, 2019 at 9:20 pm

    Love these. Are basically a must have for your tank.

    Reply
  81. Max says

    August 19, 2019 at 9:33 pm

    Pods rock!

    Reply
    • zadok jollie says

      August 24, 2019 at 2:30 pm

      Having a good copepod population is great for fish and coral. Thanks algae barn for providing mine.

      Reply
  82. stoph70 says

    August 20, 2019 at 8:12 am

    The pods are the most underestimated item in terms of importance for the aquarium.

    Reply
  83. ian m mahoney says

    August 20, 2019 at 11:11 am

    I seeded my system with pods from Algae Barn 2.5 years ago and my tanks thrived, the so called expert level fish like the Mandarin have been the easiest fish pair I’ve ever owned. 2 years and have never had to feed or do anything as the pods reproduce in their millions in the refug, just need to seed heavy the first 6 months.

    Reply
    • greg.chernoff says

      August 20, 2019 at 11:21 am

      Awesome to hear! Please when you get a chance post up a picture of your tank on our facebook or instagram pages! We love to see fat happy mandarins 😀

      Reply
  84. glenzemke says

    August 23, 2019 at 8:49 pm

    This is why they love to live in my algae scrubber

    Reply
  85. Frank says

    August 24, 2019 at 7:14 am

    I agree, copepods are the best

    Reply
  86. Logan Kreider says

    August 24, 2019 at 7:49 am

    Good read

    Reply
  87. Kyle Frame says

    August 24, 2019 at 8:02 am

    My mandarin relies on algae barn for their pods.

    Reply
  88. Nicholas says

    August 24, 2019 at 10:27 am

    Love seeing pods in my tank!

    Reply
  89. Jose Pacheco says

    August 26, 2019 at 12:05 pm

    Copepods are so important in aquarium

    Reply
  90. Jesus says

    August 26, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    Need more pods!

    Reply
  91. Jesus says

    August 26, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    Great info.

    Reply
  92. Dylan says

    August 26, 2019 at 8:43 pm

    My pods are keeping my copperband and leopard wrasses happy. Love them!

    Reply
  93. Ricardo Munoz says

    August 27, 2019 at 2:15 pm

    Agreed, sometimes my clowns don’t seem to eat much but at random times I see them munching on pods.

    Reply
  94. Lisa says

    August 29, 2019 at 3:22 pm

    Great article. Thanks for sharing this info.

    Reply
  95. castrommaritza says

    August 30, 2019 at 10:37 pm

    Yes! Have a home in my fuge!

    Reply
  96. Josh Lassiter says

    September 3, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I just seeded my tank with copopods a week ago and already I see them thick on my tank glass.

    Reply
  97. Stacey says

    August 10, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    Great read!

    Reply

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