Amphipods

Each order of amphipods contains about 100 amphipods. We no longer use the filter floss pictured in our image - each jar will contain one or more reef-safe nylon sponges.

Larger than copepods, amphipods are voracious detritovores - eating fish waste, leftover food, and some forms of nuisance algae. Due to their smaller size, they can easily get into hard-to-reach areas that your snails, urchins, and crabs can't reach. Amphipods can easily fit in the crevices of your rock, behind your corals, and in every nook and cranny. In fact, amphipods are benthic - meaning they live almost exclusively on surfaces. They spend nearly 24 hours a day crawling on your sand and rocks, eating all the stuff you don't want to be there.

When it comes to picky fish and seahorses - amphipods are a favorite! Amphipods are large enough to easily see and hunt, and amphipods are highly nutritious. Finally, amphipods are a great boost to biodiversity. It's always a good idea to put as many species of helpful creatures in your tank as possible in order to consume resources that could otherwise be used by harmful pests. Amphipods fill this role beautifully, especially when combined with our other products.

Note on Shipping/Acclimation

Amphipods are shipped in jars containing a reef-safe nylon sponge (we no longer use the white filter floss you see in the picture - it was too messy). The amphipods are strongly "benthic," meaning the prefer a surface to cling to. They tend to burrow deep inside the sponge due to the stresses of shipping.

We suggest adding all the water in the jar, and placing the sponge in the sump or tank for a couple days. After a couple days, the amphipods will have migrated out of the sponge in search of food, and it can be removed if you'd like.

Please note that we intentionally fill the amphipod jars only about 1/2 of the way full with water. If part or all of the sponge is out of the water, it's perfectly fine.