copepods and amphlipods

[shlamalama]

whats the best way to breed copepods and amphlipods? right now i have a ten gal just for them with a HOB filter live sand, a piece of rock. but idk if thats all i need to get the fireworks going lol? i have about 2000 i just orderd but dont want to buy them all the time takes to long to recieve and i already lost one manderin becouse of it.

[tcamos]

If it were me, I would remove the HOB filter and go with an air-driven sponge filter instead. This is something I used when I bred shrimp and it works well and doesn't suck up the larvae like an HOB will.

They eat detritus and phytoplankton.

If you have a large enough display tank with a sump, they will pretty much grow themselves in the sump if you provide them with a nice hiding place. A bit of cheatomorpha algae works wonders.

[shlamalama]

ya i only have a little ball of the cheatomorpha but i noticed they love that stuff i cant get it to grow to much i think theyve been eating it. i just got my live sand put in the main tank, its a 55 gal with two sump tanks ones a 10gal and other is like a 6gal where the return is. lost a manderin so before i get another one i want things to be ready. it to the shipper 2 weeks for last order of copepods. (reefs2go) idk bout them i had a lot of DOA from them. not to happy.

[tcamos]

Periodic addition of copepods from reefs2go.com is a good idea. They provide good stock which will help feed the mandarin. I normally advise people to wait before getting one for about a year. While they can be fed regular copepod additions or taught to eat frozen foods, it's helpful to have a tank that can support them. They also like very stable water. Things that take time.

[ivanhoe]

I know this thread is a bit old but the info I have is relevant. I use Tisbe Copepods from a company called tropic pods in Florida.

My Mandarin loves them, or so I assume from his ever expanding size. Whats unique about the pods is that they eat left over food and waste, thereby not needing a separate food supply. They thrive in my sump, and DT.

They do not get very big, as adults they are just big enough to see with the naked eye, but if you look in my sump it looks like the walls are moving and the Mandarin never stops grazing.

[Creamhorses]

Will Manderans eat small amphipods, or amphipods of anysize?

Seems they'd have less hunting time in and more 'just looking beatuful' time.

[ivanhoe]

My Mandarin seems to eat anything that moves. Now and overtime I have stocked Tisbe Copepods, Tiger Pods (which are larger) and he loves brine shrimp. So in my experience they will eat from the microscopic to the large so long as it is alive.

My Mandarin has not yet taken to eating pellets, so I know I still have a healthy supply of pods, besides I see them in my filter floss which means they are coming in from my DT, a good sign.

[tcamos]

Yes, they eat smaller amphipods as well as the copepods.