Copepods or not????

K

knowthemath

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Feb 16, 2004
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I am confused. I used Grunge to seed my sand bed and GARF advocates the production of copepods. I read in the marine "bible" that it's a harmful parasite and in Mak's "Hair or parasite" thread (4-26),they sound horrible.

What's the answer?

I came home from a trip with a tank full of them or at least that's what I think they are. Lots of white dots swimming and stuck to the tank.

I have no fish yet, just corals, snails and hermits. Do I have a problem?:confused:
 
'Copopod' is not a specific organism. Neither is amphipod--these are family names for a group of critters. Some--few--amphipods are parasitic. The vast majority of copopods and amphipods are not parasitic, but are beneficial microfauna of a healthy tank. Ones that are thriving in a tank without any fish in it are not parasitic, as parasites must have a host present to survive.
 
Copepods are a diverse group of little arthropods. I mentioned in Mak's parasite thread that some are parasitic, but the little dots you're seeing are just fine.

Here's what I think is a reasonable analogy. If somebody said you had mammals in your tank, you would probably want to know if they were tigers or rabbits. When they sell you copepods in a detritivore kit, you're getting rabbits.
 
"Little bunny Foo-Foo...

:laugh:

Now that song is running through my head, interrupted by "He's got HUGE, nasty teeth", from Monte Python. Thanks. I'll be really productive now! :joke:
 
i have been told they are essential for having fish like mandrains. so if you have a bunch, you might be lucky :)
 
I didn't have any on Wednesday morning when I left. When I came home Sunday evening, I had a crop.

I guess the folks at GARF know what they are doing. They told me I'd start seeing them in about 2 months. Things are right on schedule. I also found a baby serpent star last night.

I love this stuff.:p
 
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