Copepods help please...

[leesst200]

Should i be adding copepods to the tank on a regular basis?

When the tank was without fish, I saw loads of little creatures crawling in the sand and rocks etc. Will the fish have eaten them?

Is it possible to breed them at home?

Thanks in advance.

[Reefscape]

If you notice a very low population of pods in the tank, then yes, buy a tub of pods and add them to the system and this would boost the colony and promote new colony's..

If you want to culture them yourself, then maybe setup a small refugium by using a hob filter or something similar....

[tranceFusion]

I don't seem to have copepods anymore for some reason.. I have tons of amphipods.. should I do anything in this situation?

[Reefscape]

The easiest solution is to buy a tub of copepods online, and add them to the tank to boost/start cultures..

[dilbert]

At the beginning of the set-up of the tank I saw some "pod-like" creatures. Then I didn't see them anymore.

When I had to re-arrange some live rock I discovered lots of uneaten food rotting there under the rocks so my assumption was that someone must have eaten all those creatures.

Someone has an idea who could this have been? Please look at my signature about what fish or shrimps.

Recently, I spotted again some critters behind the frames of my Maxi-Jet powerheads. At one frame was a 4 - 5 mm long Stomatella snail and on another frame where I have attached a small ball of Chaetomorpha I saw some very small and shy creatures. When I went for a magnifient glass (must get one permanently on the tank) they did hide and I could only guess they were "pod-like" creatures.

So, you say now to buy new copepods and is there a chance that they'll last for a while or will it be like buying live food?
:grinyes:

[Reefscape]

At the beginning of the set-up of the tank I saw some "pod-like" creatures. Then I didn't see them anymore.

When I had to re-arrange some live rock I discovered lots of uneaten food rotting there under the rocks so my assumption was that someone must have eaten all those creatures.

Someone has an idea who could this have been? Please look at my signature about what fish or shrimps.

Recently, I spotted again some critters behind the frames of my Maxi-Jet powerheads. At one frame was a 4 - 5 mm long Stomatella snail and on another frame where I have attached a small ball of Chaetomorpha I saw some very small and shy creatures. When I went for a magnifient glass (must get one permanently on the tank) they did hide and I could only guess they were "pod-like" creatures.

So, you say now to buy new copepods and is there a chance that they'll last for a while or will it be like buying live food?
:grinyes:


Yes, they should last fine, the tubs that you can buy do have a good ammount in them and you stand a great chance of starting off a colony..

[leesst200]

I have a scooter blenny, so i need some for it to feed dont I?
Or do they eat other food.
I currently feed brine shrimp (frozen packet) and flake food.
Is this right?

[Reefscape]

Ahhh...that will explain where all your pods have gone too :) .... You need a real good pod population for these as copepods are their main source of food, and dont rely on them eating most other food sources in the tank....Most of these species are sold as scooter "Blennys", however, they are dragonette's...a mandarin relation...

For reference, here is some family history .... http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mandarins.htm

[leesst200]

Thanks Reefscape, I will try and source some and keep the population up then.
Is there a limit to how many I should be adding, I only have a small 14gall tank.