Can't buy copepods
 

Why is it so hard to buy copepods/amphipods?

No one sells them. copepods.com lists islandscallops.com on the island as a distributor, but they emailed saying they dont carry this anymore.

Where the heck can I get more pods?

I had what I though to be alot, but am worrying a little about my mandarin, who doesnt look so fat. There is about 100lbs of live rock, and I have a refugium which there are a visible few, but it seems the population is dwindling faster than I thought.

How old is your tank?

Have you tried feeding him frozen mysis etc. Also how about live brine shrimp you can hatch yourself? They are small but may work.

Cheers

If your pod population is dwindling, adding some more copepod stock may not solve the problem, and buying them is horrendously expensive. I think reefcrew sells them at some insane price. (45 bucks for 100 pods)

It could be that their food source needs a boost. Have you tried adding phyto into the tank? DT's is good when you're in a pinch, even though it's mostly water. You can get the super concentrated type even at Big Al's or Ocean Aquatics if you're in that area.

Re: Can't buy copepods
 

do you have any Pod piles in your tank, if not put some in so the Pods have a safe place to multiply that the mandrin cannot get them from. also how big is your tank?

Steve

Thanks for all the replies.

It could be Im just paranoid, but I wanted to ensure his survival.

I do dose DT phyto twice a week for the corals. also add a pinch in the refugium. Even cyclopleeze.

Its a 90 gallon tank with about 90-100lbs of rock.

I do have a couple of rubble rock piled up in a corner hoping that would help.

The thing is I cant see them in the main aquarium, but only in my 10gal fuge.

There is cheato in there and red algae, and there is decent a number of them in there visibly. Its gravity fed back to the main tank, so Im not sure if they are getting there. I did take a piece of red algae and put it in the main tank.

Can't understand why they are so hard to buy, and if available why so expensive. They are supposedly something that multiplies like crazy.

moved to Reef forum

I would imagine that nobody sells copepods because there isn't much profit in it. Everyone says they want some but they don't want to pay for them. The problem in "rearing" copepods is the overhead required, tank space, lighting etc etc. Live feed becomes pretty pricey when you are putting all your efforts into it on its own and not just a side product of a bigger business such as a frag farm or something.

I think its just as easy to get some from someone that has a refugium or something to boost your population.

JMO
Christy :)

With that in mind, Does anyone have any to offer for sale in the BBY/Van area?

Thanks

What materials make a good pod pile? Densly stacked rock that prevents any pod-eaters from getting in?

Broken chunks about 3/4 to 1" in diamiter that are pilled up enuf to prevent fish from getting in them and eating the pods.

Steve

What about trying
http://www.copepod.com/
Not sure what the cost would be to ship or even if they Do

I know the Phyo Feast this company makes is now being sold at OA so it could be possible that OA could add Pods to it's regular order for you

J