Description

TIGRIOPUS CALIFORNICUS

Our Tigri copepods contain about 3000 live Tigriopus Californicus copepods mostly in the nauplii stage, however there may be some adults included. Feeding pipefish, mandarins, seahorses, anthias, wrasses, SPS, LPS, Soft and NPS corals. Tisbe copepods are essential for new reef aquariums and benefit greatly with a refugium. Whether starting your own culture or feeding your reef tank, our Tisbe copepods will reproduce in your aquarium if given the right conditions. We recommend using our Phytoplankton to feed the pods, while keeping Macroalgae in a refugium to give them a safe place to breed and hide from predators.

Tigriopus Californicus Bio:

Tigriopus Californicus belong to the order Harpacticoida in the subphylum Crustacea. Like most copepods, Tigriopus Californicus are nocturnal and hide out in rock and macroalgae during the daytime hours. This species of copepod is very hardy and is able to survive in salinities 3 times that of seawater (Meinkoth, 1998) The typical lifespan is about 18-21 days. While the young, or juveniles need phytoplankton, the adults help keep the aquarium clean by consuming detritus and certain algae. So, the benefit isn’t just to feed your reef, but to help keep it clean as well.

PLEASE NOTE: Tigriopus Californicus has 12 life stages and are collected and ship primarily in the first few nauplii stages. These larvae or nauplii are impossible to see with the naked eye. Supplying in this manor allows the pods to establish themselves within the aquarium or refugium. At these stages and sizes, most livestock will not be able to consume the nauplii, thus allowing for a sustainable culture to start.