Click Here to Create Your Mix-and-Match Bundle & Save Up to 20%
Click Here to Create Your Mix-and-Match Bundle & Save Up to 20%
Click Here to Create Your Mix-and-Match Bundle & Save Up to 20%
Click Here to Create Your Mix-and-Match Bundle & Save Up to 20%
Click Here to Create Your Mix-and-Match Bundle & Save Up to 20%
Click Here to Create Your Mix-and-Match Bundle & Save Up to 20%
Click Here to Create Your Mix-and-Match Bundle & Save Up to 20%
Click Here to Create Your Mix-and-Match Bundle & Save Up to 20%
Click Here to Create Your Mix-and-Match Bundle & Save Up to 20%
Live Tigriopus Copepods (Single Species)
Live Tigriopus Copepods (Single Species)
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In most cases, we recommend customers purchase the Reef Snacklebox as that provides maximum biodiversity and best meets the needs of most customers.
The largest species of copepod we offer is the Tigriopus californicus. Because they are large and like to bounce up and down off the substrate in your tank, Tigriopus easily get the attention of the fish in your tank. Because they tend to be hunted fairly quickly, Tigriopus don't tend to reproduce as well in your tank as our other copepods.
If you are looking to seed your tank and increase biodiversity, we normally suggest the Reef Snacklebox™. The Reef Snacklebox™ is an excellent way to prepare your tank for a mandarin, boost your cleanup crew, or fight nuisance algae, cyano, and dinos.
On the other hand, if you're wanting to periodically give your fish and corals a highly nutritious treat, Tigriopus pods are ideal!
Buy With Confidence
Shopping for live goods online can be stressful, but we use best-in-industry shipping practices such as biodegradable styrofoam boxes, checking your weather and including heat/ice packs as needed, and sending all orders with UPS two day shipping. If anything goes wrong, we have your back with our completely hassle-free, no-questions-asked Dinkins Delivery Guarantee.
Don't take our word for it - check out our reviews section to see what other reefers are saying!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really ship safely in this summer heat?
Absolutely! We Ship for Survival year-round, using UPS two day shipping, styrofoam boxes, and an iron-clad live delivery guarantee. We also offer the option to pick your own delivery date.
Why should I buy copepods from Dinkins Aquatic Gardens?
There are many excellent suppliers of live copepods on the market. The main thing that sets us apart from the crowd is our focus on quality and customer service.
In terms of quality, we offer some of the densest bottles of live copepods on the market. We also pride ourselves on our award-winning customer service: the Dinkins Difference. Every order of live copepods is fully backed by the Dinkins Delivery Guarantee.
How many live copepods should I buy?
Deciding how many live copepods to buy depends on your tank size and specific needs. Please see our buying guide for specific recommendations.
How should I dose my live copepods?
Add all of your live copepods at once, as they will gradually perish after about a week. It's best to add them at night, when your lights are off and your fish are resting. Turn off all your pumps/powerheads for about an hour, then pour in the entire contents of your bottle(s).
How long will live copepods survive in the bottle?
Copepods are a living cleanup crew and food source, so just as with any other cleanup crew, you'll want to add them all at once. Our bottles don't have enough food or oxygen to keep copepods alive indefinitely.
Copepods generally last 6-7 days in a sealed bottle before they begin to perish. You can open the lid when you receive them and that should give you another day or two of "shelf life."
If you need to keep them alive longer than that, then put them in a bucket with some fresh saltwater, an airline, and some live phytoplankton. They'll survive indefinitely in such a setup (with regular feeding and water changes).
My copepods are all on the bottom of my bottle. Are they alive?
Almost certainly! The Apocyclops, Tisbe, and Tigriopus copepods we sell are benthic, meaning during most of their life they prefer to slowly crawl on the something (in this case, the bottom of your bottle).
Temperature acclimate your bottle of copepods by floating in your tank/sump for about an hour. Then give them a quick shake. Let your bottle set for about one minute.
Then, gently pick up the bottle and shine a light directly upward through the bottom of the bottle, preferably in a dimly-lighted room. You should see a good deal of movement. If some of the copepods aren't moving, then they are likely the planktonic juveniles that don't actively swim.
If you don't see much movement, please contact us so that we can send you a free replacement under our Dinkins Delivery Guarantee!