Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board

"Pod" is short of copepod, or amphipod, or potentially isopod, etc. It's just an abbreviation used to refer to the above animals. Copepods and amphipods are small (copepods are about the size of the tip of a pencil and amphipods are about 2-3 times the size of a flea -- and they look like them) crustaceans that scavange in your tank. They are excellent detrivores who eat detritus. Isopods are potentially dangerous. Some, but not all, are parasitic and will parasitize unwary fish in your aquarium; they are rarely found in aquaria.

[ 24 January 2002: Message edited by: Canadian ]</p>