Coepods

[amphibianboy528]

What are aphipods and how do you get them in your marine tank?

 

[phases99]

They are small beneficial Crustaceans that become food for fish and corals. They will usually make their way in on LR and LS. Otherwise you can buy cultures from places like http://www.ipsf.com/

 

[amphibianboy528]

how muck live rock would any body reccomend for a 25 gallon tank for a moderate population of amphipods and coepods?

 

[Corty]

25 - 50, depending on the density.

 

[amphibianboy528]

what do you mean 25-50???

 

[clowninround]

I think he means 25-50 lbs depending on how your tank is set up (like how much rock will fit comfortably), 25 lbs being the minimum

 

[amphibianboy528]

so maybe around 25 pounds of live rock for my tank.But how many months would it tanke to have a good population for a mandarin goby.I had one that ate live brine shrip but it sadly passed away(well dissapered).

 

[Corty]

Oh yes, sorry, 25-50 lbs. I'd say around 30 or so for Fiji, you'll want more if you're getting Keys rock.

I sincerely doubt a Mandarin would survive in your tank, unless you bred copepods in another (MUCH LARGER) tank or purchased them from your LFS (provided your LFS is trustworthy and even sells them). Not a good idea in my mind.

You'd need well over what you could fit in your tank, even without considering swimming room.

 

[amphibianboy528]

ok but I want to now if my fish are coepod eater,the fish I have are:1 fire goby,and 2 mollies.

 

[ChrisB]

i believe you can breed them yourself. go to

www.sjwilson.net/reef/

look around and find where she tells about breeding the pods. she breeds these things in bottles! Ill need to learn to do this someday too but right now its not my top priority

I dont think fire gobies live off pods because ive got a purple one and he'll eat whatever i put in the tank. I dont know about mollies but the only fish i know that mainly live on pods are dragonets

 

[phases99]

Most fish will eat anything small enough to fit in their mouths.

 

[amphibianboy528]

Really!Even mollies and fire fish

 

[Corty]

My Firefish is a pod eater beyond compare. He really cut through the things when I first got him - I guess they didn't feed him much at the LFS.

My roommate frequently exclaims "Coo-coo for cocopods (copepods)!" when he passes by the tank and sees the little guy munching 'em up.

 

[c0mf0rt]

You could also get a psycho goby instead..... very similar to the mandarin but mine will eat brine and mysis.... so no need to worry about the pods...