Copepods Eating Pellets (with pics)

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by ComputerJohn, Nov 27, 2011.

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  1. ComputerJohn

    ComputerJohn Panda Puffer

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    Ok, I have been in this hobby for over 5 years now and have seen a lot of weird things. Though this takes the cake. On my 29gal QT tank I have my pistol shrimp in there until my watchman comes in.

    So I fed him tonight and to my amazement I had a ton of copepods come out. What really blew my mind is that they were feeding on the pellet food.

    I took the pics zoomed in. You'll see green dots on two of them. Those are the pellet food.


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  3. PierceEye

    PierceEye Aiptasia Anemone

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    very cool......how do you like that food?
     
  4. Tmobo

    Tmobo T-Rev

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    I think those are amphipods. Either way good for the tank and atleast their chowing down.
     
  5. ComputerJohn

    ComputerJohn Panda Puffer

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    It is great, and lasts. I have used this food for years. All my livestock eats it including my tangs. They all go nuts for it.

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  6. NanaReefer

    NanaReefer Fu Manchu Lion Fish

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    I use the Reef Flake and Veggie Flake-great food for sure :)
     
  7. Travis45

    Travis45 Scooter Blennie

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    Definitely an amphipod, good to have in the tank. Great job spotting that!!!
     
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  9. ComputerJohn

    ComputerJohn Panda Puffer

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    I was happily impressed. Yeah my mistake on the ID on the pods. :)






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  10. m2434

    m2434 Giant Squid

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    Amphiopods are definitely great at cleaning up our tanks. We often think a out feeding the fish and corals, but forget all the little critters in our rocks need to eat too. Very cool.


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  11. Gresham

    Gresham Great Blue Whale

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    Amphipods are also one of the reasons for copepod depletion in refugiums and display tanks. They are very efficient predators.

    On the flip-side, they are used in aquaculture filters to help remove detritus :)
     
  12. ComputerJohn

    ComputerJohn Panda Puffer

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    Really. Well damn if you do and damn if you don't. Hehehe. Great insight. Thank you. I'll have to see how to tell them apart, considering how small they are.

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