Copepods and Amphipods dead?

[wen tom]

Hey guys, keep trying to get some copepods and amphipods for my Mandarine, Last batch DOA. This batch, hard to tell, some don't move at all, many in the sponge as well not moving, but I do see some move around. It was suppose to be 2,500. I put them in my sump to check today (where I can get them) and there are many laying on the bottom as well as in sponge (not moving) would love for some to keep my supply up (see little guys moving) but do I leave what appear to be dead ones in there or take them out? I could put them in display tank, crabs would love em, but again, is that not good and/or could they still be alive and I just fed some very expensive crab food? Wha cha think? Thanks, Wendy

 

[zoidberg01]

If you have many copepods and amphipods in the refuge they can turn cannibalistic and kill each other

 

[zoidberg01]

What did you feed them? Have you put any type of medicine or fluid recently?

 

[silverado61]

I read somewhere on here that Phyto 2 is good food for copepods to help them populate.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/396874/copepods-and-amphipods-dead#post_3536032
I read somewhere on here that Phyto 2 is good food for copepods to help them populate.

Hi,

If you are just using them as fish food...you just dump them in when you get them....if you want them to actually live and populate, you have to acclimate them, just like you do your fish or they die from shock.

They often come on live rock, and they LOVE macroalgae. I too have heard that they will become cannibalistic. if they over populate and don't have enough food.

 

[zoidberg01]

When I started a population I had a little piece of live rock and for hiding I got them chaetomorpha (spaghetti algae) but I don't know if they eat chaeto but phyto two will get them breeding and eating really fast

 

[zoidberg01]

P.s. if you can get a maidens hair plant (turtle grass) it will be a ideal hiding spot for them and a mating ground because the fish won't eat it

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by zoidberg01 http:///t/396874/copepods-and-amphipods-dead#post_3536046
P.s. if you can get a maidens hair plant (turtle grass) it will be a ideal hiding spot for them and a mating ground because the fish won't eat it

I agree that maidens hair would be ideal since most fish leave it alone, but turtle grass is a different thing...and it needs a deep sand bed and extra nutrients to grow. If anyone reading this post likes the look of turtle grass,,,get some Caulerpa prolifera, it doesn't need the deep sand bed.