The supralittoral zone—the area comprising the uppermost reaches of the intertidal zone—is not a particularly easy place for marine
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Benefits of Live Copepods
Challenges are good. For most of us, the considerable trials of keeping a tankful of healthy aquarium livestock keep us interested and engaged in the hobby. That being said, some of the regular problems encountered by aquarium hobbyists can be quite intimidating; arguably, the greatest challenges of keeping healthy marine aquarium systems are (1) meeting the nutritional demands of finicky/specialized eaters and (2) controlling detritus build-up and nuisance algae growth. Fortunately, both of these constantly pressing issues are effectively approached with the use of live copepods.
Extremely nutritional and capable of reaching extraordinarily high population densities, copepods are nature’s consummate food packets. They range from important to critical in pretty much all aquatic/marine ecosystems, transferring nutrients and food energy from algal/bacterial primary producers up the food chain to filter-feeding fishes and invertebrates. Their role as trophic intermediaries is entirely replicable in captive systems.
Two major groups of copepods, harpacticoids and cyclopoids, both work well for these purposes in aquaria. However, the former work best as scavengers and the latter work best as a zooplanktonic live food. Even within each of these groups, different individual species work best as specific types of cleaners, food items, etc. Thus, a well-balanced community of “pods” seems to be ideal. Maintaining a large, diverse community of copepods is possible with (1) the availability of safe space within a refugium and (2) the regular, generous feedings of wholesome phytoplankton.
In this section, you will learn which species are best additions to your pod community as well as how to maximally boost pod productivity by installing refugia and feeding phyto.
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Pods on a Plane: Receiving & Inspecting a Shipment of Live Copepods
Good news for your entire marine aquarium community: your shipment of live pods has arrived! After carefully opening your package
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A Closer Look at the Cyclopoid Copepod Apocyclops Panamensis
Marine aquarium hobbyists are increasingly coming to understand what professional aquaculturists have known for decades— copepods are a
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The Mighty Copepod
When thinking about crustaceans many creatures come to mind like shrimp or lobster. And while your mind may be wandering toward an all
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Feeding Fish Copepods
Feeding Fish Copepods
If you are buying aquarium phytoplankton or copepods, consider why you’re making that choice. Why that over more
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Live Copepod Delivery
Get live fish food
If you are carefully cultivating a saltwater aquarium, you’ll want to make sure you are giving its inhabitants the
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Feeding your Fish Fresh Copepods and Amphipods
Copepods and Amphipods
Fresh copepods and amphipods are a terrific alternative to the flakes or pellets that normally come to mind
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Using Live Copepods to Feed Your Fish
It’s important to get live food for fish if you want them to live longer, healthier lives—particularly if they are carnivorous fish.
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