Live food culturing

How to culture Copepods (Tigger-pods, Apocyclops)

Supplies needed

Live copepod starter (Tigger-pods, AlgaGen)
Refugium or dedicated 5-gallon container
Live phytoplankton (Phyto-Feast)
Aged saltwater (1.025 SG)
Sponge filter or refugium pump (gentle flow)
Light source
Mesh net (very fine for harvesting)

Step-by-step

Step 1: Set up refugium or dedicated tankIn-sump refugium with chaetomorpha = ideal home for copepods. OR dedicated 5g tank with sponge filter + chaeto.

Step 2: Inoculate with copepod starterAdd 1-2 bottles of live copepods (Tigger-pods, Apocyclops, Tisbe). Different species fill different niches; mix for biodiversity.

Step 3: Feed phytoplankton 2-3x weeklyLive Phyto-Feast or RotiGreen at the manufacturer dose. Phyto = food for copepods. Maintain green tint.

Step 4: Wait 14-21 days for boomCopepods double population every 7-14 days. Visible at lights-off (they emerge from rocks/chaeto).

Step 5: Maintain self-sustaining cultureRefugium with chaeto + reverse-cycle lighting + regular phyto feeding = perpetual copepod supply for display.

Step 6: Harvest if neededFor dedicated cultures: harvest with very fine mesh net at lights-off. For refugium: copepods naturally migrate through plumbing to display.

FAQ

Can I keep mandarin without live copepods?

Wild-caught mandarin: virtually impossible. Captive-bred mandarin (ORA, Sustainable Aquatics): yes - they're trained to accept frozen + pellets. Always verify before buying.

How many copepods does a mandarin eat per day?

Adult mandarin eats 100-300 copepods daily. Tank must produce more than is consumed = sustainable refugium with chaeto + phyto feeding.

Are tigriopus copepods tropical?

No - Tigriopus californicus are temperate (50-77°F). Most reef tanks (76-82°F) are at the upper edge but still productive. Apocyclops + Tisbe are tropical-specific.

More live food guides

Browse all live food culturing guides.

Aquarium-keeping fundamentals

Whatever specific topic brought you here, four fundamentals govern long-term aquarium success: water quality, parameter stability, biological filtration, and species-appropriate husbandry. Skip any one and the others struggle to compensate.

Water quality: ammonia + nitrite at zero, nitrate under 30 ppm freshwater + 10 ppm reef. Test weekly with API or Salifert kits. Use our water parameter checker to score your readings against your tank type.

Parameter stability: stable wrong parameters beat fluctuating ideal parameters. Most fish tolerate a wide pH range if it's stable. Sudden swings of 0.4+ pH or 5+°F kill fish faster than chronic suboptimal values. Use temperature controllers (Inkbird) + automated dosing for consistency.

Biological filtration: the bacterial colony on your filter media + rock + substrate is the engine. Never replace all media at once. Use our filter turnover calculator to size correctly.

Species-appropriate husbandry: research adult size, territoriality, diet, and tankmate compatibility before purchase. Use our tank stocking calculator + compatibility guides.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an aquarium take to set up? 4-6 weeks for full cycling + first stocking. Use our cycle ETA calculator + how long does cycling take.

What's the best aquarium for beginners? 20-gallon long. Big enough for parameter stability, small enough for budget + space. See beginner picks.

How often should I do water changes? 25-30% weekly. See water change frequency Q&A + water change calculator.

Why does my fish keep dying? 5 leading causes: uncycled tank, wrong species pairings, no quarantine, undersized tank, neglected water-change schedule. See full diagnosis.